Scaling Carbon Capture Technologies

“We’re going to need every solution in order to tackle climate change.”

To meet global climate goals, we need to capture and store a billion tonnes of CO2 by 2030, and around 6 billion tonnes by 2050. As Guloren Turan explains, a challenge of this scale requires a multitude of solutions.

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) refers to a wide range of technologies that capture CO2, either at large emissions sources like power plants or industrial complexes, or from the atmosphere. Once captured, the emissions are either made use of or stored deep underground.

Guloren describes CCUS as the Swiss army knife of climate technologies. As Chief Impact Officer at Global CCS Institute, an international think tank, she works across sectors to accelerate the deployment of these methods.

There are currently 50 operational carbon capture and storage facilities around the world with the ability to store 50 million tonnes of CO2 each year. To expand this to 6 billion tonnes in a matter of decades, massive growth is needed. Policy, investment and financial frameworks like carbon markets are all essential to unlocking opportunity of this scale.

“We need to have suitable business models for the private sector to invest in this technology.”

Are we prepared to process larger amounts of captured carbon than ever before? Luckily, there is an abundance of geological storage available under the ground, and captured emissions can also be used to create essential products like cement and steel.

Guloren emphasises that, even at scale, CCUS does not negate the urgent need for industries to reduce carbon emissions. Rather, it's one of the many vital tools we must leverage to build a sustainable future.

To learn more about Global CCS Institute, visit their website.