CARBON CAPTURE & STORAGE (CCS)
Climate change remains a defining challenge of our time, and mitigating its effects requires innovative technology and considerable effort. Carbon capture and storage appears as a promising means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly. Let's look at the overall function and potential of carbon capture technology, along with introducing two landmark projects that are set as new milestones in this crucial field.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), as the name suggests, is a technology that
seizes carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial and power generation
processes. This method prevents emissions from entering the atmosphere, thus
contributing to the fight against climate change. Once captured, the CO2 can
either be permanently sequestered underground in geological formations such as
depleted oil and gas reservoirs, saline formations and/or unmineable coal seams. Also
there is the option of converting CO2 into a range of products such as
methanol, which could further be used as a fuel or a feedstock for other
chemical production or urea, which has significant usage as a fertilizer.
Recent breakthroughs in the field of carbon capture tech have been encouraging.
Heirloom Carbon Technologies recently launched the first US plant for carbon
capture, an initiative that can potentially assist in climate change
mitigation. It is reported that the plant possesses the capacity to remove an
impressive 1,000 tons of CO2 annually, with future expansion plans
underway. To put these emissions into perspective or in layman terms 1000
tons of CO2 is equivalent to the CO2 produced by burning 119,000 gallons of
gasoline or driving a car for about 2.4 million miles. they’ve announced
plans to expand significantly—targeting millions of tons annually by the 2030s
with backing from major players like Microsoft and the U.S. Department of Energy.
This is a milestone, though DAC remains expensive (hundreds of dollars per ton
captured), and its impact is still small compared to global emissions (over 36
billion tons yearly).
On a similar note, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has recently been chosen
as the technology licensor for EET Industrial Carbon Capture. This project lays
the groundwork for the UK's first low carbon refinery, which is critical for
the country's sustainable future. Announced in 2024, this initiative supports Stanlow
Refinery’s transition to a low-carbon future, aiming to capture up to 1 million
tons of CO2 annually once fully operational. MHI’s tech, based on its proven
amine-based capture systems, is a robust choice for industrial-scale CCS. This
project is part of the UK’s broader HyNet decarbonization cluster, which could
set a precedent for refineries globally. It’s not yet fully operational as of
March 2025, but construction and licensing are progressing, marking it as a key
milestone.
In addition to industry enterprises, the academic sphere is also contributing
to the development of carbon capture technologies. Researchers at the
Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have made
significant strides, developing an economic and highly efficient system for
capturing CO2. The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) work you referenced is
also on point. Their research, funded by the DOE, focuses on solvent-based
capture systems that cut costs and energy use. In 2024, they reported a system
that could reduce the cost of capturing CO2 from power plants to below $40 per
ton under optimal conditions—a big leap from the $60–100 range typical today.
This isn’t a commercial plant yet, but it’s influencing the next generation of
CCS tech. Other academic efforts, like those at MIT and ETH Zurich, are also
pushing boundaries with solid sorbents and electrochemical methods, broadening
the innovation pipeline
Considering these various advancements, it is clear that carbon capture technology holds significant potential in mitigating the effects of climate change. With companies and researchers striving to make more affordable and widespread carbon capture technologies, it is reasonable to hope that we are moving closer to a sustainable and environmentally healthy planet. The journey ahead is indeed challenging, however, with the continuous commitments towards greener energy sources and technological advancements, like carbon capture and storage, we can indeed make significant strides towards a low carbon future and avoid the worse possible outcome.
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