What is Carbon Capture?

What is Carbon Capture Technology?

Carbon capture technology is a vital tool in the fight against climate change. It’s a process designed to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced by industrial activities and power generation, preventing this harmful greenhouse gas from entering the atmosphere and contributing to global warming. Instead of allowing CO2 to escape into the air, carbon capture technology traps it, allowing it to be stored safely or reused in various industrial processes.

How Does Carbon Capture Technology Work?

Carbon capture technology involves three main steps:

1. Capture: The first step is capturing the CO2 produced during industrial processes, such as burning fossil fuels for electricity or manufacturing cement. There are several methods to capture CO2, with the most common being:

   • Pre-combustion capture: This method involves converting fossil fuels into a mixture of hydrogen and CO2 before combustion. The CO2 is then separated and captured before the hydrogen is burned to produce energy.
   • Post-combustion capture: In this method, CO2 is captured after fossil fuels have been burned. The exhaust gases are passed through a solvent that absorbs the CO2, which is then separated and captured.
   • Oxy-fuel combustion: This involves burning fossil fuels in pure oxygen instead of air, resulting in a flue gas that is mostly CO2 and water vapour. The CO2 can be easily separated from the water and captured.

2. Transportation: Once captured, the CO2 is transported to a storage site. This is usually done via pipelines, but it can also be transported by ships or trucks, depending on the location and scale of the operation. In the UK, a network of pipelines is being developed to transport CO2 from industrial sites to storage locations, often in offshore underground reservoirs.

3. Storage or Utilisation: After transportation, the CO2 is either stored underground or used in various industrial applications. There are two main options for storage:

   • Geological storage: CO2 is injected deep underground into rock formations, such as depleted oil and gas fields or deep saline aquifers. These formations are often thousands of metres below the earth’s surface and can securely hold CO2 for thousands of years. The North Sea, for example, has many suitable storage sites that are being developed for this purpose.
   • Utilisation: Instead of storing CO2, it can be reused in industrial processes. This is known as Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU). For example, CO2 can be used in the production of chemicals, building materials, or even as a feedstock for producing synthetic fuels. In some cases, CO2 can be used to enhance oil recovery by injecting it into oil fields to push out more oil.

Why is Carbon Capture Important?

Carbon capture technology is crucial for several reasons:

1. Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Carbon dioxide is one of the primary greenhouse gases responsible for global warming. Industrial processes, particularly those involving the burning of fossil fuels, are major sources of CO2 emissions. By capturing and storing or reusing this CO2, we can significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gas released into the atmosphere. For instance, capturing one ton of CO2 emissions is equivalent to preventing the emissions of driving over 2,000 miles in a car. On a larger scale, carbon capture technology has the potential to reduce global CO2 emissions by up to 14% by 2050, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

2. Supporting the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy: As we move towards a more sustainable future, carbon capture technology plays a key role in enabling industries that are hard to decarbonise—such as cement production, steel manufacturing, and power generation—to reduce their carbon footprint. This technology allows these industries to continue operating while drastically cutting their CO2 emissions, thus supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.

3. Enhancing Energy Security: Carbon capture technology can also be paired with bioenergy, a process known as Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). This approach not only captures CO2 but can also result in negative emissions, where more CO2 is removed from the atmosphere than is emitted. This is essential for achieving global climate targets, as it helps offset emissions from sectors where it is challenging to eliminate CO2 entirely.

Challenges and the Future of Carbon Capture

While carbon capture technology holds great promise, it also faces challenges:

• Cost: Capturing and storing CO2 is expensive, making it difficult for widespread adoption without strong government incentives or carbon pricing.
• Energy Requirements: The process of capturing and compressing CO2 is energy-intensive, which can offset some of the environmental benefits unless renewable energy sources are used.

However, advancements in technology and increasing global focus on reducing carbon emissions are driving down costs and improving efficiency. With continued investment and policy support, carbon capture technology could become a cornerstone of global efforts to combat climate change.

Conclusion

Carbon capture technology is an essential part of the toolkit for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change. By capturing CO2 before it reaches the atmosphere, transporting it safely, and storing it underground or reusing it, we can significantly reduce the impact of industrial activities on our planet. As technology advances and costs decrease, carbon capture will likely play an increasingly important role in achieving global climate goals and transitioning to a low-carbon economy.