Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is one of many technologies which could help combat climate change. CCS involves collecting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and industrial processes before their release into the atmosphere, then safely storing them permanently underground.
CCS involves a complex process involving the separation and transport of carbon dioxide from an emissions gas mixture, compressing it for storage purposes in geological formations, and finally injection. This article will describe three main steps involved.
Capture
CCS projects involve chemically isolating CO2 from other gases present in flue gas from fossil fuel power plants. There are various technologies used for this, with capture occurring either before combustion (pre-combustion CCS or PCCS), or post combustion (post-combustion CCS or pCCS).
CO2 is then transported for permanent underground storage via pipeline, using established technology already utilized to transport other liquids such as oil and natural gas. After transport, carbon dioxide injection is performed into geologic formations like used-up oil/gas reservoirs or deep saline formations where its long-term safety can be monitored over time.
Some companies and labs are exploring how CO2 captured from power plants can be utilized for products like plastics, building materials such as cement and concrete, fuels and even transportation fuels. Unfortunately, this work is still at an early stage and most CO2 captured is still used for enhanced oil recovery by pumping it into oil wells to free up hard-to-extract oil reserves.
Compression
CO2 capture involves compressing captured carbon dioxide to supercritical pressure using a carbon dioxide compressor before transporting via pipeline to storage sites, typically saline aquifers or depleted oil and gas reservoirs where its carbon will become permanently locked within geological formations.
Capturing carbon at its source is integral to meeting international commitments to mitigate global warming and ensure long-term economic sustainability. There are multiple technologies currently in use in this arena, such as direct air capture and carbon capture at power plants.
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Transportation
Transportation emissions account for an immense proportion of global carbon emissions, so researchers are working on solutions to mitigate them using carbon capture technology that can be installed into both new vehicles as well as older ones.
Reducing atmospheric CO2 levels won’t happen quickly; rather, this technology plays an integral part in meeting international climate goals.
CO2 that has been captured is stored underground in geological formations or used in industrial materials production or power plants that produce electricity as well as carbon-negative bioenergy.
The Gorgon Project on Barrow Island in Australia uses a CCS system to capture CO2 from natural gas sources and store it deep underground.
Airline emissions are another area where this technology can be beneficial. Captured carbon dioxide can undergo purification to make use of it in carbonated beverages or simply for preservation and dry ice making purposes that keep frozen foods cool while being transported.
Storage
Globally, various projects are underway to demonstrate the ability to store carbon for long-term use. Some are designed for commercial gain while others aim to address specific technological hurdles or gain experience with specific storage geologies.
Once CO2 has been captured, it can be transported and stored underground geological formations for Geological Carbon Sequestration (GCS).
Pressurised carbon dioxide is converted to liquid form before being injected into deep rock formations such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs or saline aquifers, where it reacts with magnesium and calcium ions to form stable minerals that over time.
Although CCS technology is relatively advanced, cost remains a significant barrier to wide-scale adoption. Integrating CCS into coal or natural gas power plants is expensive and often doubles their electricity production cost; thus limiting its potential to effectively combat climate change.