Carbon capture technology has the potential to play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Which are the primary cause of climate change. The technology works by capturing carbon dioxide (CO2).
From industrial processes before it is released into the atmosphere. And then storing it safely and securely in underground geological formations. By doing so, carbon capture technology can prevent the emission of large quantities of CO2. Into the atmosphere, helping to mitigate the negative effects of climate change.
The need for carbon capture technology
Greenhouse gas emissions are primarily caused by human activities. Such as burning fossil fuels for energy, deforestation, and industrial processes. These emissions trap heat in the atmosphere, causing the Earth’s temperature to rise.
And leading to a variety of negative effects, including rising sea levels, and more frequent and intense heat waves. And extreme weather events, and the extinction of many species.
To combat the negative effects of climate change. It is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One way to do this is to transition to renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower. However, transitioning to renewable energy will take time. And in the meantime, there is a need to reduce emissions from existing sources.
This is where carbon capture technology comes in. By capturing CO2 from industrial processes before it is released into the atmosphere. Carbon capture technology can help to reduce emissions from existing sources. This can buy time for the transition to renewable energy. While still making progress toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
How carbon capture technology works
Carbon capture technology involves several steps, including capturing the CO2. Transporting it to a storage site, and storing it underground. The process begins with capturing the CO2 from an industrial process.
Such as a power plant or cement factory. This can done using a variety of methods, including absorption. Adsorption, and membrane separation.
Once the CO2 has been transported to the storage site. It needs to be injected into the select geological formation.
This is done using injection wells, which are drilled into the formation. And used to inject the CO2 at high pressure. Once the CO2 has been injected, it is trapped within the formation and stored securely underground.
The potential of carbon capture technology
Carbon capture technology has the potential to play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. According to the International Energy Agency.
Carbon capture technology could reduce global CO2 emissions by up to 15% by 2050. This is a significant reduction. And it would make a meaningful contribution to the effort to combat climate change.
Wrap-UP
One of the benefits of carbon capture technology is. That it can apply to a variety of industrial processes. This means that it has the potential to reduce emissions from a wide range of sources. Including power plants, cement factories, and steel mills. By capturing CO2 from these sources. Carbon capture technology can help to reduce emissions from some of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Another benefit of carbon capture technology is that it can be in conjunction. With other technologies to further reduce emissions. For example, carbon capture technology can be used in combination. Renewable energy sources create a system. Known as “carbon capture and storage with renewable energy” (CCS-RE).