What are the Benefits of Carbon Capture and Storage?

Carbon Capture and Storage, or CCUS for short, is one of the many technologies designed to mitigate long-term climate change. This approach involves collecting CO2 from fossil-fueled power plants and industrial facilities and then depositing it underground geologic formations.

CCS takes two forms, post-combustion and direct air capture (DAC). Post-combustion CCS involves collecting smokestack emissions from coal or natural gas power plants using chemical solvents to separate out CO2, before burying it safely within geological formations.

DAC captures CO2 before it can escape into the atmosphere via processes such as adsorption and absorption. Studies are underway to see whether or not it can serve as a viable technology to combat greenhouse gas emissions in future.

Some have argued that CCS should serve as an interim measure until renewable energy sources can become widespread; others suggest the money spent on CCS could better support renewable energy development.