Carbon capture, or carbon capture and storage (CCS), is a technology that involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial processing and storing them underground or using them for other purposes.
The primary goal of CCSi s to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, thereby mitigating climate change.
CCS works by separating CO2 from other gases produced during industrial processes, such as power generation, cement production, and steel manufacturing. The CO2 is then compressed into a liquid form and transported to a storage site, usually deep underground. It is stored in geological formations like depleted oil and gas fields, saline aquifers, or deep coal seams.
There are three primary types of carbon capture: post-combustion, pre-combustion, and oxyfuel combustion.
Post-combustion involves capturing CO2 after it is produced by burning fossil fuels, while pre-combustion involves capturing CO2 before the fuel is burned. Oxyfuel combustion involves burning fuel with pure oxygen, producing a concentrated stream of CO2 that is easily captured.
Carbon capture can also be used for other purposes, such as enhanced oil recovery (EOR), where the captured CO2 is injected into depleted oil fields to extract additional oil. This process, known as carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), can reduce emissions while generating additional revenue.
How carbon capture benefit to fight against climate change
Carbon capture is necessarily needed in the fight against climate change because it allows us to sustain using fossil fuels while reducing their environmental impact. While renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are becoming increasingly popular, they still need to be capable of meeting our energy needs.
Carbon capture allows us to reduce the carbon footprint of fossil fuels, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the climate change impacts.
Furthermore, it can help to address the issue of carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes that are difficult to decarbonize, like cement production, which is responsible for approximately 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
However, carbon capture is not a silver bullet solution to climate change. It is an expensive and complex technology, and there are concerns about storage sites’ long-term safety and stability.
Additionally, CCS does not address the root cause of climate change, which is the burning of fossil fuels. Therefore, while it is a valuable tool in the fight against climate change, it should be seen as one part of a broader strategy that includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and developing more sustainable practices.