Carbon Capture and Storage: Engineering Solutions to Climate Change

As the world fights the increasing consequences of climate change, engineering inventions are key in finding sustainable answers. One of these inventions is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), which is a technology that reduces the emission of greenhouse gases by capturing carbon dioxide before it is emitted into the atmosphere. This technique is increasingly receiving international attention since industries and governments are looking for practical ways to achieve climate objectives without compromising on energy production and economic growth.

What is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)?

CCS is a three-step process involving the following:

Capture – Extracting CO₂ from industrial sources like power plants, cement factories, and steel manufacturing units.

Transport – Moving the captured CO₂ through pipelines, ships, or other means to designated storage locations.

Storage – Injecting CO₂ deep underground in geological formations, preventing it from re-entering the atmosphere.

It has great value especially for industries difficult to decarbonize, therefore, reducing the emissions while it is possible to continue operations without causing much environment disruption.

Engineering Behind CCS

The success of CCS depends entirely on sound engineering principles that deliver efficiency and safety. Let us take a deep dive into key engineering aspects for each phase below:

1. Carbon Capture Technologies

Post-combustion Capture: CO₂ is captured from the flue gases after fossil fuels are combusted. Chemical solvents like amines facilitate the separation of CO₂ from other gases.

Pre-combustion Capture: CO₂ is removed before fuel combustion by converting fuel into a mixture of hydrogen and CO₂.

Oxy-fuel Combustion: Fuel is combusted in pure oxygen rather than air, which produces an almost pure CO₂ exhaust stream that is easier to capture.

2. Carbon Transport Systems

Pipelines are still the most effective and least expensive way to move CO₂ from the capture points to storage sites.

Other options are CO₂ shipping, and transportation by train, as an option if pipelines do not exist in those areas.

3. Safe Carbon Storage

Geological Storage: Injection into deep saline aquifers, depleted oil and gas fields, or basalt formations. Overtime, the CO₂ mineralizes, permanently trapping it underground.

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR): Some industries use captured CO₂ to extract more oil from aging fields, offsetting costs and increasing energy production.

The Impact of CCS on Climate Change

Global CO₂ emissions can significantly decrease with CCS. In the International Energy Agency report, it is stated that up to 14% of global emissions can be cut if CCS is deployed widely by 2050. Apart from this, CCS is an essential step to reach Net Zero, where human-induced emissions need to be balanced by removal efforts.

Countries like Norway, Canada, and the U.S. have been pioneers in CCS deployment, with projects like Sleipner (Norway) and Boundary Dam (Canada) demonstrating the feasibility of large-scale carbon storage.

Challenges and Future Prospects

Despite its promise, CCS faces several challenges:

High Costs: The technology is expensive, requiring substantial investments in infrastructure and research.

Energy-Intensive Process: Capturing and compressing CO₂ demands significant energy input.

Public Perception: Fear of leakage and long-term environmental effects prevent its general adoption.

Advances in DAC, improved techniques to monitor storage, and government incentives are now making CCS cheaper and scalable. Increasing research and collaboration between industry are promising for the future of CCS as a cornerstone of global decarbonization strategies.

Engineering Education and CCS Development

Educational institutions in India are now incorporating sustainable engineering practices into their curricula, ensuring that future professionals will be equipped with the skills to contribute to large-scale carbon management projects. For students interested in specializing in this field, enrolling in an engineering college in India can provide the knowledge and training needed to drive innovation in CCS technologies.

The Way Ahead

Carbon Capture and Storage is an engineering solution that will play a crucial role in the fight against climate change. Although there are challenges, continued research, policy support, and technological improvements are paving the way for a cleaner and more sustainable future. As industries and governments strive to meet emissions targets, CCS will play an integral role in shaping the next era of climate-conscious engineering.