What is ccs technology

The methods used for the capture of CO 2 use well-known technologies that can effectively stop the amount of emissions that would normally be released into the atmosphere.

The transport of CO 2 can be done by pipelines or by shipping. The CO 2 that has been captured from the power plants is compressed and turned into a fluid state, known as supercritical CO 2. It is then moved via thick carbon steel pipelines or taken in a specially-equipped ship to the chosen site of storage. Geological storage formations are chosen for the storage of CO 2 depending on their physical properties.

The reservoir rock is porous, which means that there are tiny little spaces between the grains that the CO 2 gets trapped in; the caprock is non-porous, so this means there are no spaces at all in between the rock grains, so the CO 2 cannot enter this top, capping rock. These geological formations are either deep saline formations, depleted oil and gas reservoirs, or deep unmineable coal seams.

The geological storage formations are not just a few metres under the ground; they are always at depths greater than metres. CCS is proposed in a range of different areas, but this fact sheet focuses on the forms of CCS attached to fossil fuel energy infrastructure.

Not everything here applies equally to other uses of CCS. CCS backers claim that it can be used to reduce the impact of emissions-intensive industries like cement, steel and chemical production. Carbon capture and storage is a licence to ramp up emissions. Around the world, CCS projects are being built to enhance oil and gas production, not reduce emissions. In Australia, the coal and gas industry is pushing for CCS so it has a licence to keep its polluting projects going, not because it wants to cut emissions.

After decades of CCS research and billions of dollars invested around the world, including here in Australia, there is little to show for it. In fact, when CCS is attached to coal and gas power stations it is likely to be at least six times more expensive than electricity generated from wind power backed by battery storage. Every CCS project that has been undertaken so far has resulted in significant delays and massive cost blowouts. At the moment, CCS is the only technology that can help reduce emissions from large industrial installations.

It could be an essential technology for tackling global climate change. Possible environmental and climate change damages could be caused by CO 2 leakages from storage sites if they are not adequately selected, managed and monitored. Sign up to our newsletter. Skip to content Home » Explainers » Energy and climate change » What is carbon capture and storage and what role can it play in tackling climate change?

What is carbon capture and storage and how does it work? Are there any drawbacks to carbon capture and storage?