With growing concerns about climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, carbon capture has emerged as an urgent technology.
So, this week’s article explores recent advances in carbon capture technologies, their practical applications in the industrial sector, and the potential for significant reductions in CO₂ emissions. Let’s dive in!
What is carbon capture?
If you’re still unfamiliar with this topic, Bring Consulting has you covered. Carbon capture involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere or directly from industrial sources before it is released into the atmosphere. This captured CO₂ can be stored in deep geological formations or reused in industrial processes.
Technological advances in carbon capture
Post-combustion capture
Post-combustion capture is one of the most traditional and mature techniques, where CO₂ is removed from flue gases after fossil fuel combustion. Recent advances include the development of more efficient solvents, such as amines, which improve capture capacity and reduce operating costs.
A good example is the Boundary Dam Power Station in Canada, which uses post-combustion capture technology to capture up to 90% of the CO₂ emitted by the plant, preventing the release of approximately 1 million tonnes of CO₂ per year.
Pre-combustion capture
In the case of pre-combustion capture, the fossil fuel is converted into a mixture of hydrogen and CO₂ before combustion. The CO₂ is then separated and captured. This technology is especially relevant for gasification plants and refineries.
One example of the technology is the hydrogen gasification plant in Port Arthur, Texas. It captures about 1 million tons of CO₂ annually, which is then used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR).
Oxyfuel Capture
Oxyfuel capture involves burning fossil fuels in pure oxygen instead of air, resulting in a gas emission composed primarily of CO₂ and water vapor, making it easier to capture the CO₂.
The Schwarze Pumpe pilot plant in Germany is an example of the use of oxyfuel technology, demonstrating the viability of this approach on a large scale.
Want to learn about some practical applications in the industrial sector? Follow the thread!
Cement industry
Cement production is one of the largest sources of industrial CO₂ emissions. Carbon capture technologies are being implemented to capture CO₂ released during the calcination process.
Steel industry
Steelmaking is another major source of CO₂ emissions. Technologies such as pre-combustion capture and oxyfuel are being adapted to capture CO₂ in blast furnaces.
Chemical industry
The chemical industry, which includes the production of ammonia, ethylene and other substances, is embracing carbon capture to reduce its carbon footprint.
Potential for emission reduction:
Carbon capture technologies have significant potential to reduce global CO₂ emissions. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), large-scale deployment of these technologies could capture up to 2.8 gigatonnes of CO₂ per year by 2050, representing around 14% of the reductions needed to achieve the Paris climate targets.
As we continue to innovate and invest in this area, carbon capture can become a central piece in the transition to a more sustainable future.
