Carbon capture is all about different methods that catch the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by power plants and other industrial sites, usually before it gets a chance to enter the atmosphere and add to global warming. The carbon dioxide that gets captured through one technique is either reused for other applications or stored in a way that prevents it from escaping—this is what we call carbon sequestration.
How Carbon Capture Works
There are a variety of technologies currently in use or under development for capturing carbon. These include:
- Post-combustion carbon capture
- Pre-combustion capture
- Oxy-fuel combustion capture
- Direct air capture
Types of Carbon Capture
After capturing carbon dioxide, the next thing to consider is what to do with it. One possibility is to store it, or sequester it, so it won’t harm the atmosphere. There are two main types of storage: geologic and biologic.
- Geologic storage
- Biologic storage
Pros and Cons
One of the biggest perks of carbon capture is its ability to potentially slow down and even reverse the buildup of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, which is a key factor in global warming, climate change, and all the risks that come with them.
On the flip side, the main drawback right now is the cost—especially when it comes to scaling it up enough to make a real difference. According to a 2023 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, carbon capture is seen as one of the least effective and priciest ways to cut down greenhouse gas emissions, falling way behind alternatives like wind, solar, geothermal, and nuclear energy.
Another issue is that focusing too much on carbon capture might be unnecessarily holding us back from transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. As highlighted in a 2021 article from the MIT Technology Review, “The noise, news, and hype are feeding a perception that carbon removal will be cheap, simple, scalable, and reliable—none of which we can count on.”
The advocacy group Food & Water Watch doesn’t hold back: “Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the fossil fuel industry’s biggest scheme yet to persuade people that the climate crisis can be solved while still depending on what they’re selling.” They label CCS as “bogus,” “snake oil,” a “scam,” and a “marketing ploy.”
Conclusion
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a tech that could help tackle ongoing global warming. Supporters see it as a valuable temporary solution, while detractors raise concerns about its price and how well it actually works.