Carbon Capture and Storage: A Pragmatic Path to Net-Zero

As the world accelerates its transition to low-carbon energy, carbon capture and storage (CCS) stands out as a practical tool for reducing emissions across heavy industry, power generation, and essential chemicals. CCS is not a silver bullet, but when integrated with policy support, investment, and a robust regulatory framework, it can significantly lower carbon footprints where alternatives are limited. This article explains what carbon capture and storage entails, how the technologies fit together, and what is required to scale up the approach responsibly and effectively.

What is carbon capture and storage?

Carbon capture and storage refers to a suite of technologies designed to trap carbon dioxide (CO2) or other greenhouse gases, prevent them from entering the atmosphere, and store them securely for long periods. The process typically involves three linked steps: capture, transportation, and storage. In some cases, CO2 is also used for enhanced oil recovery or other industrial processes, after which it becomes part of the storage cycle. The goal is to achieve durable, verifiable reduction in net emissions while maintaining energy reliability and economic stability.

The three core stages of CCS

Each stage has distinct technical challenges and opportunities. Working together, they enable CO2 to move from emission sources to permanent underground storage or other enduring containment:

Capture: CO2 is separated from other gases produced during combustion or chemical processing. Technologies vary by feedstock and plant configuration, from fossil fuel plants to cement kilns and chemical facilities.
Transport: The captured CO2 is compressed and transported to storage sites using pipelines or ships, depending on geography, scale, and infrastructure.
Storage: CO2 is injected into geological formations or other stable sinks where it is trapped for centuries or longer, with monitoring to ensure long-term containment.

Capture technologies: post-combustion, pre-combustion, oxy-fuel, and more

There are several pathways to capture CO2, each suited to different industry profiles and plant layouts. The most common are:

Post-combustion capture

CO2 is removed from exhaust gases after combustion, using solvents, solid sorbents, or hybrid materials. This method makes retrofitting existing plants feasible and is widely discussed for power plants and industrial facilities. The technology tends to incur energy penalties and operational costs, but advances in solvents and looping systems are helping to reduce these drawbacks.

Pre-combustion capture

In this approach, fuel is converted into a synthesis gas (hydrogen and CO), and CO is then shifted to CO2 and hydrogen. The CO2 is captured before combustion, which can lead to higher capture purity and lower emissions at the plant level. This method is common in gasification-based facilities and some refinery configurations.

Oxy-fuel combustion

Fuel is burned in oxygen instead of air, producing a gas stream rich in CO2 and water vapor. When the water is condensed, a nearly pure CO2 stream remains for capture and storage. This pathway simplifies separation but requires an air separation unit and careful plant design.

Direct air capture (DAC)

Direct air capture pulls CO2 directly from ambient air, offering a pathway to negative emissions when combined with durable storage or use. DAC is energy-intensive and expensive today, but it has strategic value for decarbonizing sectors that are difficult to electrify and for offsetting residual emissions from other activities.

Transport and storage: moving CO2 safely to a permanent home

CO2 must be moved efficiently and stored securely to realize the benefits of CCS. Transport is typically achieved via pipelines, with ship-based transport as a viable option for certain regions and scales. Storage options are primarily geological:

Geological formations: Deep saline aquifers and depleted oil and gas fields can securely contain CO2 for centuries. In many cases, CO2 is trapped through cap rock integrity, dissolution, and mineralization over time.
Oil and gas reservoirs (enhanced oil recovery, EOR): CO2 injection can help recover additional oil while also sequestering CO2. Proper monitoring ensures that the primary purpose remains long-term storage rather than rapid production gains.

Oceans have been discussed as a potential sink, but storage in deep marine environments remains controversial due to ecological and geochemical uncertainties. For mainstream CCS deployment, geological storage on land and under the seabed is the focus of current projects and policy frameworks.

Becoming part of a broader decarbonization strategy

CCS intersects with other approaches, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and industrial modernization. In some sectors, CCS enables continued operations in the near term while renewable capacity and electrification scale up. In others, CCS works in tandem with bioenergy: Carbon capture and storage paired with biomass (BECCS) promises negative emissions by removing CO2 absorbed during plant growth and then storing it. Direct air capture (DAC) combined with storage can further contribute to net-negative outcomes across the economy.

Benefits, challenges, and risks

Like any technology, CCS carries both promise and caveats. Understanding these factors is essential for policymakers, investors, and communities:

Benefits: Significant emissions reductions in hard-to-abate sectors such as cement, steel, ammonia production, and certain power plants; potential to enable negative emissions with BECCS and DAC; support for energy systems during the transition by reducing peaks in emissions when electrification is incomplete; potential to create new jobs in CCS hubs and related industries.
Key challenges: High upfront capital costs, energy penalties that can reduce plant efficiency, and the need for robust CO2 transport and storage infrastructure. Regulatory clarity and long-term liability frameworks are critical for investor confidence.
Risks and public acceptance: Monitoring and verification of stored CO2, potential leakage pathways, seismic and geomechanical considerations, and local community concerns. Transparent monitoring plans and stakeholder engagement are essential for building trust.

Policy, economics, and industry readiness

Scaling CCS requires a supportive mix of policy, financing, and dedicated infrastructure. Several levers are commonly discussed today:

Carbon pricing and mandates: A stable price on carbon or performance standards can create a predictable market signal for CCS investments.
Tax credits and subsidies: Credits that reward CO2 capture and storage, such as those offered in several regions, help bridge the cost gap between CCS projects and conventional options.
CCS hubs and shared infrastructure: Regional hubs with centralized capture facilities, CO2 pipelines, and storage sites can reduce costs and accelerate deployment by sharing infrastructure among multiple emitters.
Regulatory clarity: Clear permitting, long-term liability regimes, and robust monitoring requirements reduce risk for operators and lenders.

Real-world examples and lessons learned

Several projects around the world illustrate how carbon capture and storage can function in practice, each with its own set of lessons:

Sleipner, Norway: Since the 1990s, CO2 has been captured from natural gas processing and injected into a deep saline formation beneath the North Sea. Sleipner demonstrates the feasibility of long-term underground storage with ongoing monitoring and reporting.
Weyburn-Midale, Canada: One of the early large-scale pilots combining CO2 capture with geological storage to study monitoring and storage dynamics in an oil field context.
Petra Nova, United States: A major retrofit in Texas aimed at reducing emissions from coal-fired generation through CCS; program adjustments under evolving market conditions highlight the need for stable policy support.
Quest CCS, Canada: A long-standing storage project near Edmonton that has contributed to provincial decarbonization goals through high-integrity storage and transparent reporting.

The road ahead: CCS in a balanced climate strategy

CCS will not replace the need for rapid decarbonization across the economy, but it can complement a broader strategy that includes energy efficiency, electrification where feasible, and the deployment of renewables. In heavy industry, CCS may be essential to reach deep emissions cuts; in power sectors that still rely on fossil fuels, CCS can provide a bridge while the grid becomes cleaner. The most effective pathways combine CCS with carbon removal technologies and a clear, fair policy framework that rewards real, verifiable emissions reductions.

Conclusion

Carbon capture and storage offers a credible means to tackle emissions from sectors that are difficult to decarbonize through energy alone. By integrating capture, transport, and storage with sound governance, robust monitoring, and thoughtful economics, CCS can contribute meaningfully to net-zero goals. The industry’s success will hinge on steady policy support, transparent risk management, and ongoing innovation that reduces costs while improving safety and public trust. As nations pursue ambitious climate targets, carbon capture and storage remains a practical option—one that deserves careful consideration as part of a comprehensive strategy for a sustainable, resilient future.