For years, carbon capture and storage (CCS) has faced reactions similar to the initial reactions that Ford attracted when it first introduced an affordable, mass-produced car – doubt and disbelief. Yet today, carbon capture technology stands ready to reshape how we tackle climate change responsibly, writes Wendy Lam, CEO of Capsol Technologies.

The IEA’s roadmap to net zero by 2050 envisions capturing 7.6 gigatonnes of carbon annually – roughly the same volume of carbon as is emitted by all passenger cars on the road globally. This makes carbon capture technology a global imperative; particularly for heavy industries such as steel, cement, and power which together are expected to contribute 45% of the carbon captured.

Installing CCS technology at these plants can transform them into playing a major role in achieving net zero and supporting global development. Importantly, it could avoid the unnecessary stranding of assets such as gas power plants, or the early retirement of serviceable equipment for example blast furnaces for steel making. Critically, for many hard-to-abate industries, carbon capture may be the only cost-effective solution in some countries in the near future. 

Capturing around 8 billion tonnes of carbon annually by 2050 will require at least a hundred-fold increase on today’s state of play. To underscore the magnitude of that aspiration: it is the approximate equivalent of building a large, carbon capture facility every day until 2050.

To succeed, we must think like Ford, and pioneer the mass deployment of carbon capture. At the same time, we must also plan for a minimum environmental footprint in the deployment of CCS. For example, ensuring the safety of chemicals used, thoughtfully sourcing materials for projects, and taking a lifecycle view of emissions.

Combining technology innovation with the customer experience

2023 and 2024 have seen substantial commitments to boost CCS project development, with $1.7 billion by the US Department of Energy for demonstration projects, and up to $2 billion by the European Union for capture, transport and storage. This marks significant progress, yet it remains challenging for both research and development, and shovel-ready projects to attract investment. Historically, there’s a tendency to stick with the familiar. If we’d done that, we’d all still be riding around in horse-drawn carriages.

While some solutions are built on technologies first innovated decades ago, new innovations are emerging to reduce the cost and complexity of applying carbon capture to today’s industrial processes and introduce new benefits.

Modern solutions often require minimal plant changes and can be added at the ‘end of pipe’ requiring only electricity; modular designs can be configured to meet the specific needs of the individual plant; they are also environmentally friendly and safe. Some solutions even generate heat or electricity as a byproduct, enhancing efficiency and offsetting costs or creating new revenue streams, such as selling heat to a district heating scheme.

So, while we should celebrate those initial projects for progress, they are not the benchmark on which to measure the industry. A prime example is the 35% cost reduction achieved between the first and the second large scale CCUS facilities for power generation. Today, more than 45 commercial facilities are operating globally with a handful of post-combustion projects now operational. What represented cutting-edge carbon capture technology at the time, mostly amine-based solvents, has long been upgraded.   

The technology is ready, and now to accelerate uptake the industry’s relentless focus on innovation must be paired with an equally tenacious focus on the customer experience. Too often though, conversations about carbon capture get lost in the minutiae of the technology when we should instead concentrate the conversation on the end goal – solving customers’ carbon challenges simply and cost-effectively. Currently, substantial technical expertise is needed for end customers to understand the nuances between absorption methods, solvents, plant integration, etc.

In short, we need to make carbon capture easier to deploy by talking plainly about the options and how they integrate into existing operations to achieve business goals. For some avoiding carbon taxes will be high on the agenda, while for others taking advantage of tax credits such as the US’s 45Q will be key. In these conversations, emitters are looking for transparency and simplicity. This is ultimately how the industry will move away from being considered as complex, expensive and immature, by being customer and technology-orientated. Enhanced customer understanding will also drive innovation.

Initiatives to improve transparency
At Capsol Technologies, we’re currently exploring the idea of ways to make the process more transparent and accessible. Consolidating market data would also help projects reach financial investment decision faster. Currently, market data is scattered, often divergent and semi-private. This creates a challenge in understanding the reality of the industry. Clearer information will lead to more confident recommendations.

Aside from simplifying the language and concepts that we use, developing a fully commercialised turnkey solution or ‘carbon capture as a service’ could reduce risks and upfront capex costs facing emitters.

Finally, the growth of carbon offsets market offers exciting opportunities that could help heavy industry to decarbonise. As an example, Microsoft has made several deals in the last year to remove carbon, most recently inking one with Stockholm Exergi for the permanent removal of 3.3 million metric tonnes from its bioenergy plant at Värtan, Stockholm, Sweden.

Despite increased carbon capture projects in the last two years, achieving net zero requires accelerated roll-out. By making carbon capture easier to deploy and focusing on proven, scalable solutions, we can confidently guide emitters such as power, steel, waste-to-energy and cement and investors toward adopting carbon capture. Carbon capture can transform carbon emissions and simplify the path to a sustainable future.

This article was originally published on Power Engineering International