GAIL’s tie-up with LanzaTech for CO2 capture is a big deal

Introduction

So far, the global discourse on combating climate change has been about reducing additional emissions of heat-trapping gases such as CO2, called greenhouse gases, rather than on taking out what has already been injected into the atmosphere. But now it is clear that the strategy of reducing additional emissions cannot by itself bring global temperatures to within 1.50C of pre-industrial levels. There is increasing acceptance that carbon dioxide removal (CDR) must be an integral part of the solution.

The Challenges of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)

CDR is tough and expensive. Estimates say it would cost anywhere between $600-1000 to remove a tonne of CO2 from the atmosphere. The price of carbon in the European Union – where companies face a cap-and-trade system and must pay for CO2 emissions above a threshold – has been around $100 per tonne.

Methods of CO2 Removal

There are two ways to remove CO2. The first is to capture it from flue gases escaping plants where fossil fuels are burnt. The second is to remove it from the air through a process called direct air capture (DAC). The captured CO2 can either be used or stored.

• Flue Gas Capture: CO2 can be captured from chimneys where fossil fuels are burned. One technique is to use powerful fans to suck air down to adsorbents that soak up the CO2 passing through them.
• Direct Air Capture (DAC): CO2 can be removed from the air using adsorbents. The captured CO2 can either be used or stored.

Storage and Use of Captured CO2

Storage of captured CO2 can be done by burying it deep underground or making it react with basic chemicals to produce other substances. However, the real excitement lies in carbon capture and use (CCU), where captured CO2 is put to good use.

• Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): CO2 can be stored by burying it deep underground or making it react with basic chemicals. These storage methods are used by companies to prove their green credentials.
• Carbon Capture and Use (CCU): Captured CO2 can be used in various ways, such as pumping it into depleting oil wells to increase pressure, substituting industrial CO2 for products like soda or beer, using it in greenhouses to accelerate plant growth, or converting it into specialty chemicals and synthetic fabrics.

The Importance of Carbon Capture and Recycling

Carbon capture and recycling is best suited to countries like India that would otherwise find it too expensive and difficult to eliminate emissions. This makes the GAIL-LanzaTech tie-up especially important.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The GAIL-LanzaTech joint venture aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations:

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Conclusion

The joint venture between GAIL and LanzaTech to capture CO2 and convert it into useful organic chemicals is a paradigm-setting initiative to combat climate change. It highlights the importance of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) as an integral part of the solution to reduce global temperatures. By making carbon capture and recycling profitable, more companies should partner with innovative CCU companies and fund startups to find new ways of capturing atmospheric CO2 and converting it into useful products. This will not only contribute to achieving the SDGs but also help avert a climate catastrophe.