Carbon capture and storage is a process of capturing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial facilities, transporting it to a storage site, and injecting it into the ground where it will be permanently stored.
Most people have heard of greenhouse gases, but many don’t know precisely what they are or how they contribute to climate change. Greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, etc – trap heat from the sun, causing the Earth’s average temperature to rise. These gases allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere, but they prevent some of the heat from escaping back into space. This process is known as the greenhouse effect, and it makes our planet hospitable for life.
For the the last years CO2 and other greenhouse are increasingly having destructive effects irreversible impacts on life on Earth.
What is Carbon Capture and Storage
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a technology that can capture waste carbon dioxide (CO2) from large point sources, such as power plants, and securely store it in a geological formation. CCS can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from these sources while continuing to meet our energy needs.
The process of CCS involves three main steps: CO2 Capture, Transportation, and Storage.
CCS in the Natural World
Carbon dioxide is produced when fossil fuels are burned. Trees and other plants use sunlight to convert this carbon dioxide into the oxygen we breathe.
In a natural forest ecosystem, there is a continuous cycle of “exhaling” and “inhaling” of carbon dioxide by trees and other vegetation. Carbon storage in trees, soils, and deep ocean sediments provide a “sink” for atmospheric carbon dioxide. Global forests currently store more than two times the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.
The challenges for the future
One of the key issues facing carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the high cost. CCS is a relatively new technology, and the costs associated with capturing, transporting, and storing carbon dioxide are still relatively high.
Finding suitable storage sites is yet another thorny issue for Carbon storage.CCS is also an energy-intensive process. Current carbon capture and storage technologies are not yet able to operate at a large scale or at a level of efficiency that would make them economically viable.
Achieving zero emissions will require multiple specific steps in all interested parties over the next few decades. Many governments have now begun to recognize how critical CSS is to achieving zero emissions by 2050.
The future of CCS will largely depend on the policies put in place to support the development and deployment of this technology.
CCS is a critical technology for mitigating climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But it is still in its early stages of development, and there is a need for more research, development, and deployment of this technology.
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