How CCUS Technology is Paving the Way for a Low-Carbon Future Vol.2

The importance of CCUS technology is self-evident. With the exacerbation of global climate change, there is an urgent need for effective measures to address carbon emissions and the challenges of global warming. As a crucial negative carbon technology, CCUS provides a feasible solution for achieving carbon neutrality goals. Through carbon capture, utilization, and storage, CCUS technology not only effectively reduces CO2 emissions but also offers transitional solutions for industries facing challenges in rapid decarbonization. Moreover, the development of CCUS promotes innovation in related technological fields, providing robust support for advancing the entire low-carbon technology sector. In the journey to combat climate change, the significance of CCUS technology cannot be overstated. With continuous maturation and optimization, CCUS is poised to contribute even more significantly to establishing a low-carbon future. --Lyn Lin, EFC Sustainability Senior Consultant

Carbon Utilization

After capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) during industrial processes, it can be transported via pipelines or tanker trucks for carbon utilization or sequestration. Carbon utilization technologies transform CO2 into useful products through various pathways, reducing its atmospheric concentration. Here are several common methods of carbon utilization:

1. Chemical Utilization: CO2 can be converted into chemicals such as methanol through hydrogenation reactions. Methanol can then be used as fuel or further transformed into plastics and other chemical products.

2. Mineralization Utilization: CO2 reacts with industrial waste, such as steel mill desulfurization slag, to form stable carbonates, achieving long-term fixation of CO2.

3. Biological Utilization: In the treatment of wastewater from the production of purified terephthalic acid (PTA), CO2 is used to promote the growth of microalgae. These microalgae can serve as raw materials for the production of biofuels and other high-value biological products.

While carbon utilization technologies can reduce atmospheric CO2 to some extent, the carbon elements recovered do not exit the carbon cycle completely. For example, methane produced from CO2 hydrogenation will regenerate CO2 when burned and release it back into the atmosphere. Therefore, carbon utilization technologies are often seen as transitional strategies, providing effective means to reduce immediate CO2 emissions, but they are not sufficient to achieve long-term carbon neutrality goals.

To achieve long-term carbon neutrality, it is necessary to combine carbon storage technologies to stably fix CO2 underground, thus removing it from the carbon cycle entirely. Carbon sequestration technologies include geological and ocean storage, among others. These methods can safely isolate CO2 deep underground, preventing it from re-entering the atmosphere.

Carbon Storage

Carbon storage involves the long-term fixation of CO2 from the atmosphere through natural or artificial methods. It can be considered the reverse process of fossil fuel use, where above-ground carbon is reburied underground. One of the mainstream commercially applied technologies is CO2-enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR). This involves injecting CO2 into oil and gas reservoirs, where it reduces the interfacial tension between crude oil and CO2, improving the mobility of crude oil and increasing oil and gas production.

Despite the commercial value of CO2-EOR due to its economic benefits, oil extraction essentially adds carbon to the carbon cycle. To achieve macro-level carbon neutrality, it is necessary to capture CO2 from other stages and safely isolate it underground or under the ocean through geological storage.

According to recent research, China’s theoretical capacity for geological storage is considerable, with a maximum capacity of up to 40,000 tons. However, the processes of CO2 capture, transportation, and storage involve certain costs, making the implementation of this technology largely dependent on national policy guidance and the development of the carbon market. Government support in the form of financial subsidies, tax incentives, and funding for technological research and development is necessary. At the same time, the healthy development of the carbon market can provide the necessary economic incentives for carbon storage projects.

Furthermore, the development of carbon storage technology should be accompanied by rigorous environmental impact assessments and long-term monitoring to ensure the safety and reliability of the storage process and avoid potential environmental risks. Through these comprehensive measures, the advancement of carbon storage technology can be facilitated, contributing to the achievement of global carbon neutrality.

Significance for carbon neutrality

As a critical negative emissions technology, CCUS plays an indispensable role in the journey towards carbon neutrality. For industries that still rely on fossil fuels, CCUS technology serves as a transitional solution, especially for those facing the challenge of rapid decarbonization, such as the cement and steel manufacturing industries. CCUS technology can effectively reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, laying the foundation for the ultimate goal of zero emissions.

From a macro perspective, the application of negative carbon technologies is crucial to balance overall carbon emissions in society. Compared to relying solely on natural processes like forestry carbon sinks, CCUS technology has broader applications, offering greater potential for emission reduction and sequestration. Moreover, under a healthy carbon market price mechanism, CCUS technology not only contributes to environmental protection but also demonstrates significant economic benefits.

The development of CCUS technology has also promoted innovation in related technical fields. These innovations include improving capture efficiency, reducing energy consumption and costs, and developing new pathways for carbon utilization. These technological advancements profoundly impact the development of the entire low-carbon technology field, providing strong technical support for global climate change response.

In summary, CCUS technology is an important means to achieve carbon neutrality. It provides feasible solutions for industries that find rapid carbon reduction challenging and contributes to the overall carbon balance of society. As the technology continues to mature and optimize, its potential in economic and technological innovation will further contribute to a low-carbon future.

Last chapter ????

Reference:

1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2021). Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). Retrieved from https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/

2. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2018). Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C. Retrieved from https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/

3. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). (2015). The Paris Agreement. Retrieved from https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement

4. International Energy Agency (IEA). (2020). Energy Technology Perspectives 2020. Retrieved from https://www.iea.org/reports/energy-technology-perspectives-2020

5. International Energy Agency (IEA). (2021). Tracking Clean Energy Progress. Retrieved from https://www.iea.org/reports/tracking-clean-energy-progress

6. Global CCS Institute. (2021). Global Status of CCS 2021. Retrieved from https://www.globalccsinstitute.com/resources/global-status-report/

7. Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China. (2020). China’s Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change. Retrieved from https://english.mee.gov.cn/Resources/Reports/reports/

8. American Chemical Society (ACS). Various articles on CO2 utilization. Retrieved from https://pubs.acs.org/