In this article, we discussed carbon capture and storage, the types, the roles, technological innovations and future prospects, and economic and policy dimensions and the future of carbon capture and storage.
Definition
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a process that prevents carbon dioxide emissions from large industrial sources, like power plants and factories, from entering the atmosphere. The captured is compressed and transported for permanent storage deep underground in geological formations. This process is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and can be part of a strategy to mitigate climate change.
The Types of Carbon Capture and Storage:
Post-Combustion Capture3Description: This is the most common and mature method.4 It involves capturing after the fuel has been burned.6 The is separated from the flue gas (exhaust gas), which is primarily nitrogen and water vapor, and contains a relatively low concentration of typically 3-9Process: Often uses chemical solvents (like amines) or solid sorbents to absorb the 11Application: Ideal for retrofitting existing power plants and industrial facilities, as it requires the fewest fundamental changes to the existing process.
Oxy-Fuel Combustion Capture21Description: The fuel is burned in an atmosphere of nearly pure oxygen instead of air (which is mostly nitrogen).22Process: Burning in pure oxygen produces a flue gas composed almost entirely of 23$\text{CO}_2$ and water vapor (24$\text{H}_2\text{O}$).25 The water is easily condensed out, leaving a highly concentrated stream of $\text{CO}_2$ (over 90%) that is ready for transport and storage, eliminating the need for complex $\text{CO}_2$ separation from nitrogen. Application: Can be applied to new or significantly modified power plants and industrial processes (like cement or steel manufacturing).
Pre-Combustion Capture12Description: This method captures 13$\text{CO}_2$ before the main fuel combustion.14 The fossil fuel (like coal or natural gas) is first reacted with steam and oxygen/air (a process called gasification or reforming) to produce a synthetic gas called syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (15$\text{H}_2$).16 The CO is then reacted to form 17$\text{CO}_2$ and more 18$\text{H}_2$.19Process: The resulting gas stream is highly concentrated with $\text{CO}_2$ (up to 40%) and is under high pressure, making separation using physical solvents (like Selexol) or membranes more efficient. The remaining hydrogen-rich gas is then burned to generate power. Application: Most suitable for new power plants, especially those using Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) technology.
Contributing to a diverse energy supply: By offering a way to produce low-carbon energy, CCS can contribute to greater energy diversity and flexibility, which can improve energy security. Providing a pathway to meet climate targets: CCS is a key technology in many scenarios designed to help achieve climate goals, such as the Paris Agreement targets.
Roles of Carbon Capture and Storage:
Reducing emissions in heavy industry: CCS is critical for industries like steel, cement, and chemicals, where emissions are difficult to eliminate through other means. It provides one of the few technological options to achieve deep cuts in emissions from these sectors.
Decarbonizing energy production: CCS can be installed on power plants that use coal, gas, or waste to produce low-carbon electricity. It can also be used to produce low-carbon hydrogen, a fuel that can be used to decarbonize other sectors.
Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere: When combined with bioenergy (BECCS), CCS can lead to a net removal of from the atmosphere. This is considered vital for scenarios that aim to limit global warming
Contributing to a diverse energy supply: By offering a way to produce low-carbon energy, CCS can contribute to greater energy diversity and flexibility, which can improve energy security.
Providing a pathway to meet climate targets: CCS is a key technology in many scenarios designed to help achieve climate goals, such as the Paris Agreement targets.
Technological Innovations and Future Prospects:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI: AI has moved beyond simple automation to generative systems that create new content, design prototypes, and assist in complex decision-making. The future will see the rise of agentic AI, autonomous software programs capable of setting and achieving goals independently. The convergence of human and machine intelligence will lead to “living intelligence” systems that can perceive, learn, and evolve, fundamentally changing work and creativity.
Quantum Computing: This field is moving from research labs to applied business use, offering unprecedented computational power to solve problems beyond the scope of traditional computers. Future prospects include accelerated drug discovery, complex financial modeling, and the development of quantum-proof encryption to secure data against future threats.
Biotechnology and Engineered Therapeutics: Advances in genetic engineering, gene editing (like CRISPR), and synthetic biology are creating “engineered living therapeutics,” such as reprogrammed bacteria that act as mini medicine factories inside the body to provide cheaper, more effective long-term care for chronic illnesses like diabetes.
Green Tech and Climate Innovation: Technology is being developed to actively combat climate change, including structural battery composites for lighter electric vehicles/aircraft, osmotic power systems that generate electricity from the difference in water salinity, and green nitrogen fixation methods to reduce the environmental impact of fertilizer production.
Robotics and Autonomous Systems: Robots are becoming more multifunctional and autonomous, moving into diverse fields like healthcare, logistics, and even agriculture. AI-driven robotics will enhance efficiency and safety in hazardous environments, fostering a collaborative human-machine workplace model.
Connectivity and the Internet of Things (IoT): The expansion of 5G and future 6G networks will enable a massive increase in connected devices, creating intelligent, collaborative sensing ecosystems. This will support the growth of smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and real-time operational management in industries from manufacturing to healthcare.
Future Prospects and Societal Impact
The future of these technologies lies in their convergence, creating systemic solutions to global challenges. For instance, combining AI with biotechnology will accelerate medical research, while integrating AI and IoT will optimize energy management and agricultural yields.
Economic and Policy Dimensions
1 Cost Considerations
The current cost of CCS ranges from $50 to $150 per tonne of CO₂ captured, depending on technology and application. For DAC, costs can exceed $400 per tonne, though these are projected to decline with technological advances and economies of scale.
Carbon Pricing and Incentives
The viability of CCS largely depends on carbon pricing mechanisms and government incentives. Policies such as:
The European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS),
And the UK’s Carbon Capture and Storage Infrastructure Fund,
provide crucial financial support for CCS deployment.
Public-Private Collaboration
Private sector engagement is growing, with major energy companies — including Shell, BP, and Equinor investing in CCS projects as part of their decarbonization strategies. Partnerships between governments, academia, and industry will be central to scaling CCS in the next two decades.
The Future of Carbon Capture and Storage:
Project pipeline: The number of CCS projects in development is growing rapidly, with some reports indicating capacity could quadruple by 2030.
Target growth: Despite current momentum, the pace of deployment needs to increase substantially to meet climate goals, which require a global capture rate of 1 Gt/year by 2030.
CCS is seen as a crucial technology for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors like cement, steel, and chemicals, where it is often the most feasible solution.
New applications: Captured CO2 can also be used to produce synthetic fuels and other products, a sector with vast potential for the future.
Economic viability: Significant investment and public support are needed to make CCS projects financially viable, as cost efficiency and return on investment remain key challenges.
Pace of deployment: The current growth rate may not be enough to meet climate targets, and economic uncertainty or underinvestment could slow progress.
Policy and regulation: Clear mandates, stronger financial signals, and supportive policies are crucial to maintaining momentum and ensuring deployment continues at the necessary scale.
Collaboration: Increased collaboration across the value chain, from technology providers to material suppliers, is helping to reduce costs and risks by optimizing design and materials.
Storage solutions: Geological storage in formations like depleted oil and gas fields is the most promising method, but mineral storage is also being explored.
Conclusion
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a technology designed to capture carbon dioxide (\(\text{CO}_{2}\)) emissions from large industrial sources to prevent them from entering the atmosphere. The process involves three main steps: capture, transport, and storage.
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