{"id":54992,"date":"2024-03-12T15:02:49","date_gmt":"2024-03-12T13:02:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/?p=54992"},"modified":"2024-03-12T15:02:51","modified_gmt":"2024-03-12T13:02:51","slug":"the-crucial-role-of-ccus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sweco.fi\/en\/ajankohtaista\/news\/the-crucial-role-of-ccus\/","title":{"rendered":"The crucial role of CCUS technologies on the path to net zero emissions"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo Credit: GettyImages\/cagkansayin<\/p>\n

The crucial role of CCUS technologies on the path to net zero emissions<\/h1>\n

Published on: March 4, 2024<\/p>\n

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is a set of technologies that have emerged in climate debates as solutions capable of significantly reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the industrial sector.<\/p>\n

CCUS is expected to play an important role in the work towards global climate objectives, but challenges remain before these technologies can be deployed at scale.
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\n\"HiilidioksidinTomas Norrena<\/em>. Picture: Reijo Koirikivi \/ Studio P.S.V.<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The adoption of CCUS facilitates the reduction of CO2 emissions in hard-to-abate sectors, playing a crucial role in thoroughly advancing the green transition,\u201d says Tomas Norrena, Senior Advisor at Sweco Finland.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Role of CCS in Industrial Emission Reduction<\/span><\/p>\n

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a solution used to capture carbon dioxide emissions produced from industrial processes or power generation and store it underground in geological formations to prevent it from entering the atmosphere. CCS can be applied across a range of sectors, including cement, steel, fertilisers, power generation and natural gas processing. Several proven technologies for capturing CO2 from point sources are already in place, and they are also commercially widely available.<\/p>\n

There are currently 29 operating facilities in the world, according to the Global CCS Institute, with a combined capture capacity of close to 40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year \u2014 the equivalent of taking nearly 8 million cars off the road. While there are currently more than 100 facilities across all stages of development and a range of sectors, challenges remain before CCS is ready for mass-scale use in the long term.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are profitability challenges linked to the CCUS projects, which is one of the reasons why the national and EU level subsidies still have an important role in the market,\u201d Norrena says. \u201cIt is essential that the EU provides sufficient subsidies for the industrial actors, so that the European companies remain competitive in the green transition. The on-going development of regulation will also have its own impact on how the market will be oriented.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another issue is that appropriate storage locations are often situated at a considerable distance from the actual sources of emissions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe possible liquefaction and cost-effective transfer of captured carbon dioxide to the CO2 transfer hubs or directly to the port is crucial when the feasibility of these projects is concerned. In addition to shipping-related costs, Sweco\u2019s experts evaluate constantly the technical solutions for transporting carbon dioxide by truck, pipeline or rail.\u201d<\/p>\n

The economic potential of CCU technologies<\/span><\/p>\n

CCU involves capturing carbon dioxide and repurposing it for other applications \u2014 such as creating fuels, chemicals or building materials \u2014 effectively turning the captured CO2 into a resource rather than just storing it.<\/p>\n

For instance, there are several technology routes available for the production of synthetic methane or methanol. Capturing CO2 for use in plastic production also presents promising opportunities, as the carbon is sequestered within the material for a longer period of time.<\/p>\n

With several uses recognised, CCU has the potential to create new business opportunities for various companies, including start-ups, according to Norrena.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe utilisation of carbon dioxide in the production of synthetic e-fuels while using green hydrogen is currently a highly active topic in the Nordics. It is also possible to utilise the carbon dioxide directly, for instance in the food industry or greenhouses.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sweco studies the suitability of different carbon dioxide utilisation routes for industrial clients on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n

When it comes to the production of e-fuels, some of the key factors are:<\/h3>\n