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What Is Carbon Capture and Storage?
Carbon Capture and Storage is a technology that captures carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from sources like power plants, industrial facilities, and even directly from the air. Once captured, the CO₂ is compressed and transported—usually by pipeline—to a storage site. It is then injected deep underground into geological formations, such as depleted oil and gas fields or deep saline aquifers, where it can be safely stored for thousands of years.
For more information: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/carbon-capture-storage-market-1862
Why CCS Matters
Global climate targets, such as those outlined in the Paris Agreement, require deep cuts in CO₂ emissions across all sectors. While renewable energy sources like wind and solar are rapidly expanding, they can’t completely eliminate emissions from heavy industries like cement, steel, and chemicals. This is where CCS becomes crucial.
Key benefits of CCS include:
Enabling low-carbon industry: It allows industries to decarbonize without having to completely reinvent their manufacturing processes.
Supporting clean hydrogen production: CCS is used in producing blue hydrogen, a low-carbon fuel made from natural gas.
Removing existing CO₂: Direct Air Capture with CCS (DACCS) can help remove CO₂ already present in the atmosphere—an important step toward achieving net-zero emissions.
Current Applications and Progress
More than 30 CCS facilities are currently operating around the world, with dozens more under development. Countries like Norway, Canada, and the United States are leading the charge, integrating CCS into national climate strategies.
One notable example is the Northern Lights Project in Norway, which aims to create a full-scale CCS value chain in Europe. Meanwhile, the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act has expanded tax incentives for carbon capture, spurring new investments in the technology.
Challenges Facing CCS
Despite its promise, CCS still faces several hurdles:
High costs: The technology is expensive and requires significant upfront investment.
Infrastructure gaps: Transport and storage networks for CO₂ are still underdeveloped in many regions.
Public perception: There’s skepticism about long-term storage safety and concerns that CCS might delay the shift to renewables.
That said, continued research, policy support, and private-sector involvement are helping to drive down costs and improve efficiency.
Looking Ahead
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has emphasized that limiting global warming to 1.5°C will be nearly impossible without CCS. As climate pressures mount, the technology is poised to play a bigger role in decarbonizing the global economy—particularly in sectors where alternatives are limited.
From capturing emissions at their source to removing carbon from the air, CCS offers a bridge to a cleaner, more sustainable future. While it’s not a silver bullet, it’s an essential tool in the climate action toolbox.
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