Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS)

A study in Environmental Science & Technology reported that CCS technologies are significantly more expensive than switching to renewable energy.

• Policies promoting CCS for CO₂ reduction in 149 countries would cost 9-12 times more than transitioning to wind, water, and solar power.

About Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS)

• Definition: A technology that captures CO₂ emissions from large sources such as  refineries, power plants  and stores them underground.
• Difference from Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR):
  • CCS prevents CO₂ from entering the atmosphere.
  • CDR removes CO₂ already present in the atmosphere.

Types of Carbon Sequestration

• Ocean Sequestration: Injecting CO2 directly into the deep ocean or fertilizing the ocean with nutrients to enhance biological productivity and carbon uptake.
• Terrestrial Sequestration: Storing carbon in plants, soils, and other terrestrial ecosystems through afforestation, reforestation, and sustainable agricultural practices.
• Geological Sequestration: Injecting CO2 into deep underground geological formations, such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs or saline aquifers, for long-term storage.

CCS Process

• Capture: CO₂ is captured from power plants and industries like steel and cement.
• Transport: CO₂ is compressed into liquid form and transported to underground storage sites.
  • Stored in saline aquifers or depleted fossil fuel reservoirs for long-term containment.
• Storage: CO₂ is injected into deep underground formations such as saline aquifers or depleted oil and gas reservoirs.

Capture Techniques

• Post-combustion: Uses chemical solvents to separate CO₂ after fossil fuel combustion.
• Pre-combustion: Captures CO₂ before combustion by converting fossil fuels into synthetic gas and hydrogen.
• Oxyfuel combustion: Burns fossil fuel with pure oxygen, producing CO₂ and water vapor, which is then separated and captured.
• Most Efficient Method: Oxyfuel combustion, but requires high energy input for oxygen burning.

IPCC AR6 Report Findings on Effectiveness of CCS

• CDR should be used only to counterbalance hard-to-abate emissions rather than support continued fossil fuel use.
• CCS should be considered only when capture efficiency is 90-95% or more and emissions are stored permanently.
• Methane leakage from fossil fuel production must remain below 0.5% (ideally 0.2%) for CCS to be effective.

About “Panchamrit” action plan

• The Panchamrit Action Plan unveiled by India at COP26, outlines five key commitments to combat climate change:
  • Non-fossil energy capacity: Reach 500 GW by 2030.
  • Renewable energy: Meet 50% of energy requirements with renewables by 2030.
  • Carbon emissions reduction: Reduce total projected emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030.
  • Carbon intensity: Reduce the economy’s carbon intensity by 45% by 2030 (from 2005 levels).
  • Net-zero emissions: Achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.

Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) Centres in India

• India is exploring and developing CCUS technologies and projects, though large-scale deployment is still in its early stages.
• The two Centres, namely the National Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture and Utilization (NCoE-CCU) at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, Mumbai and the National Centre in Carbon Capture and Utilization (NCCCU) at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bengaluru are being set up.
• These centres will likely play a significant role in capturing CO2 from industrial sources, utilizing it for various purposes, or storing it safely underground.

Challenges of CCS

• High Cost: CCS deployment is significantly more expensive than transitioning to renewable energy sources, making it a less economically attractive option.
  • The study found CCS policies could be 9-12 times more costly than renewable energy transitions.
• Continued Fossil Fuel Reliance: CCS can create a justification for continued fossil fuel use, potentially hindering the necessary shift to cleaner energy sources. Critics argue it offers “room to pollute.”
• Technological Maturity: While CCS technology exists, large-scale, cost-effective implementation faces challenges and requires further development.
• Storage Concerns: Secure, long-term storage of captured CO2 is crucial, and potential risks associated with leakage or geological instability need careful consideration.

Way Forward 

• Targeted Applications: Focus CCS on industrial sectors with difficult-to-abate emissions, like cement or steel production, where alternatives are limited.
• Policy Support: Incentivize CCS research, development, and deployment through targeted policies, including carbon pricing mechanisms.
• Innovation: Invest in research to improve CCS efficiency, reduce costs, and develop novel approaches like direct air capture.
• Public Engagement: Address public concerns about CCS safety and long-term storage through transparent communication and community involvement.

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