Carbon Capture Explained: Point Source Capture Vs. Carbon Dioxide Removal

Carbon Capture and Removal: Understanding the Differences and Implications

The Importance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
2. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
5. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Introduction

The Paris Agreement, established in 2015, emphasizes the need to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. To combat climate change, carbon capture has emerged as a crucial tool for decarbonizing various industries such as energy, chemicals, transportation, cement, and steel production. It is also seen as a means of reversing climate change by capturing CO2 from the atmosphere itself. There are two methods of carbon capture – carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR). While both methods aim to curb global warming, they operate under distinct principles and applications. Understanding these differences is vital for policymakers, investors, and environmental advocates as they navigate the complexities of carbon reduction technologies.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) vs. Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)

Imagine a clogged bathtub overflowing with water, posing a threat of flooding your bathroom. In such a situation, you have two options – turning off the tap or bailing out the water to buy time for unclogging the drain. Similarly, CO2 emissions in our atmosphere can be likened to water overflowing a bathtub. Point source carbon capture is equivalent to turning off the tap, capturing CO2 emissions at the source (e.g., a chimney) before they enter the atmosphere and cause warming. On the other hand, carbon dioxide removal is akin to bailing out the water from a tub, removing CO2 that has already been emitted into the atmosphere. Point source carbon capture aims to prevent emissions from causing warming, while carbon dioxide removal focuses on reversing emissions that contribute to warming. Although these concepts are often equated, they are two distinct tools in the fight against climate change.

The Growing Importance of Carbon Dioxide Removal

The carbon removal industry is projected to become a trillion-dollar industry by 2050. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has even declared that carbon removal is “unavoidable” if the world is to meet its climate goals. To achieve this trillion-dollar industry’s potential, gigatons of historic CO2 must be physically removed from the atmosphere through carbon dioxide removal. Meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement will require scaling up to 10 gigatons of CDR annually by 2050 and 20 gigatons of CDR each year by 2100. However, current progress falls short of these critical thresholds. Tech-based removals have only extracted a few hundred thousand tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, far from what is needed.

The Significance of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)

Carbon dioxide removal involves physically extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or ocean to mitigate global warming. Direct Air Capture (DAC) removes CO2 from the air, while Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) removes it from the ocean. High-quality CDR is essential for achieving net-zero emissions goals and mitigating the impacts of climate change. CDR addresses all the historic tons of CO2 that have polluted our planet, rather than solely focusing on current emissions. The universality of DAC is its most compelling advantage, as it can be deployed anywhere with access to renewable energy, independent of CO2 emission sources. This makes it a versatile tool in the global effort to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels.

The Role of Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS)

Alternatively, Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS), also known as point source capture, involves capturing carbon dioxide at chimneys or other emission sources. CCS is particularly effective in reducing emissions from large industrial sources. By targeting these high-emission points, CCS can achieve significant reductions in overall CO2 emissions. Additionally, CCS technologies are more cost-effective in these settings due to the high concentration of CO2 in chimneys, simplifying the capture process. CCS is commonly deployed at industrial oil and gas facilities, such as the Shell Quest plant, which has successfully captured and stored nearly 8 million tonnes of CO2 since its inception in 2015.

Limitations and Challenges

• CCS only addresses current emissions and does not address historic emissions that have already been released into the atmosphere.
• CCS projects have been expensive and commercially fragile, with a significant number of projects being canceled or put on hold.
• Point source capture projects currently only capture a small fraction of global emissions.
• CDR technologies, such as DAC, currently require a substantial amount of energy and rely on renewable sources to ensure carbon negativity.
• The manufacturing and supply chain for DAC are still under development.
• CDR lacks mature project developers and the necessary infrastructure to catalyze carbon removal technology on a massive, commercial scale.

A Portfolio Approach for Carbon Reduction

To effectively slow global warming, a portfolio approach that integrates CCS, CDR, and other carbon management technologies with renewable energy sources and efficiency measures is crucial. Both point source carbon capture and direct air capture play vital roles in achieving carbon neutrality and mitigating the impacts of climate change. By investing in research, development, and deployment of these technologies, alongside efforts to reduce emissions at the source, humanity can take a significant step forward in preserving human life on Earth.

Conclusion

As the world progresses towards a carbon-neutral future, innovative carbon capture technologies will play an increasingly important role. Understanding the differences, strengths, and limitations of point source carbon capture and direct air capture is essential for leveraging their full potential. By embracing a comprehensive approach and investing in these technologies, alongside sustainable energy practices, we can make significant strides in mitigating the impacts of climate change. Achieving the ambitious goals set by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires collective action from all stakeholders.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters

   The article discusses the importance of carbon capture technologies in the fight against climate change, which is directly related to SDG 13. The targets mentioned above are relevant as they emphasize the need to integrate climate change measures into policies, improve education and awareness, and strengthen resilience to climate-related hazards.

2. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
   • Target 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency

   The article mentions the importance of renewable energy sources for carbon capture technologies. Achieving these targets under SDG 7 is crucial for supporting the deployment of carbon capture and storage technologies.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable
   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors

   The article highlights the need for research, development, and deployment of carbon capture technologies, which aligns with the targets under SDG 9. Upgrading infrastructure and enhancing technological capabilities are essential for scaling up carbon capture and storage.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: forbes.com

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