CO2 CAPTURE

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a method of reducing carbon emissions and tackling the reduction of global warming. Carbon capture is a 3-step process that includes capturing carbon dioxide, transporting it, and storing it underground.

CCS includes the capture of CO2 emissions from industrial processes, such as the production of steel and cement, or from burning of fossil fuels. This captured carbon is then transported safely to the desired location from the site of production, by ship, or through a pipeline and stored underground for geological formations.

TYPES OF CARBON CAPTURE

As part of the normal operations, commercial applications of carbon capture would normally focus on specific industrial processes to remove carbon dioxide in concentrated streams. For electricity generation and industrial processes, existing systems must be reconfigured to capture and concentrate carbon dioxide, using one of these 3 methods:

Pre-combustion carbon capture:
Fuel is vaporized and produces a synthesis gas (or syngas) which consists of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. A consequent shift response changes the CO to CO2 and a solvent normally separates the CO2 from the H2.

Post-combustion carbon capture:
Post-combustion capture usually utilizes chemical solvents to divide carbon dioxide out of the flue gas from fossil fuel combustion. Modifications of current power plants for carbon capture are expected to use this method.

Oxy-fuel carbon capture:
Oxyfuel capture makes fossil fuel combustion in pure oxygen so that the exhaust gas is carbon-dioxide-rich.

Carbon capture types

STEPS

There are following three steps to the CCS process:

  1. Carbon dioxide for storage
    Carbon dioxide is separated from other gases during the industrial processes such as coal and gas power generation plants and other steel and cement factories.
  2. Transportation
    After capturing and storing the carbon dioxide it is then compressed and transported through pipelines, road transport, or ships toward the storage location.
  3. Storage space
    After the above two steps, the third and final step is storage. Carbon dioxide is injected into the rock formations that are deep underground for permanent storage.

ADVANTAGES

The following are the advantages of Carbon Capture:

  • The CO2 is pressurized to convert into a supercritical fluid. It transfers heat more as it helps with power generation and the turbines run smoothly without any delays. CO2 is also used to extract geothermal from the location where it was stored and enables it to produce renewable geothermal energy.
  • CO2 is converted into fuel with various methods based on the cost and relevance of the process.
  • It is also used to make the concrete strong as it leads to an increase in the durability of the infrastructure.
  • In the case of more CCS operations and processes and their successful completions, it creates the need for new jobs for skilled technicians to manage the processes.
CO2 advantages

DISADVANTAGES

Carbon capture helps save the climate as there is no carbon emission. But still, there are the following disadvantages that CCS can have:

  • The CCS methods are quite costly as they need to generate electricity through fossil fuels. There are a lot of things or factors to consider for safety and storage and saving from any kind of carbon leakage that can contaminate the environment.
  • The leakages can lead to earthquakes or any other kind of risky incident where the carbon is stored. This the biggest disadvantage of CCS.
  • There is a 60% probability of gas emission from transportation and other activities such as agriculture and industrial activities. These emissions are not supplied by the CCS processes. The rest 25% of the emission comes from fossil fuels.

FUTURE OF CO2 CAPTURE

Carbon capture continues to have a crucial role when it comes to energy transition, particularly in heavy industries like power, steel, cement and oil and gas. Quite a few companies are embracing carbon capture’s possibility and financing in this technology.

There are Government incentives that further encourage investment, but the engineering, procurement and construction industry will play a significant position in producing more economic solutions.

Between having a strong industry commitment, government assistance and innovative supply chain solutions, carbon capture can challenge the financial headwinds and produce a competitive solution for achieving net-zero targets. The future is more encouraging than ever for this technology.

RESEARCH

With continued research, development, and innovation, CCS can become a valuable tool in the fight against climate change, helping to achieve a sustainable and low-carbon future.