Power plants and industrial facilities that emit carbon dioxide, the main contributor to global warming, are optimistic that Congress will continue to support tax credits that reward the capture and storage of the gas deep underground. This technique, known as carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), is viewed by many as a key strategy for reducing pollution during the transition to renewable energy sources.
Nevertheless, CCS has its critics. Some conservatives argue it is a costly and unnecessary endeavor, while environmentalists claim it has fallen short of its promises to significantly reduce pollution. They also see it as a method for fossil fuel companies, such as those in the oil, gas, and coal industries, to prolong their operations.
Carbon capture involves isolating carbon dioxide—a gas released during the combustion of fossil fuels—from other emissions. When released into the atmosphere, carbon dioxide acts as a greenhouse gas, trapping heat and contributing to long-term global temperature increases. To prevent this, facilities can install technology to filter carbon dioxide before it exits smokestacks. Following capture, the gas is compressed and transported, often via pipeline, to an underground storage site.
In some cases, carbon is extracted directly from the air using large vacuums and then dissolved in chemicals or bound to solid materials. For instance, BKV Corp. has implemented a system in Texas where carbon is injected nearly two miles below ground, storing it in geological formations suited for long-term sequestration. CCS can also utilize deep saline or basalt formations and unminable coal seams. However, it is also common for captured carbon to be used in enhancing oil recovery, where it is injected to increase reservoir pressure, allowing for additional oil extraction.
When it comes to efficiency, the most prevalent carbon capture technologies can trap and store about 60% of emissions from industrial processes. Achieving capture rates above this is increasingly difficult and costly. Although some companies aim for as high as 90% efficiency, real-world results have not met these expectations due to technical challenges in capturing emissions at their source.
Despite its potential, CCS faces difficulties in ensuring secure, long-term storage of carbon. Concerns about leakage persist, as evidenced when a site in Illinois experienced a notable leak that led to legislative action to prevent similar risks to local water resources. Critics also argue that carbon capture extends the life of fossil fuels, hindering the transition to greener alternatives.
Moreover, carbon capture processes are not without their own emission issues. A study in 2021 highlighted that they can leak methane, a potent greenhouse gas that, although it diminishes more quickly than carbon dioxide, has a much stronger heat-trapping effect. Of the global carbon capture operations, around 45 facilities were active last year, capturing about 50 million metric tons—a small fraction of the billions of tons released annually by the energy sector.
ExxonMobil’s Shute Creek facility in Wyoming, one of the world’s largest CCS projects, captures about half its carbon emissions, with a significant portion redirected into oil production, emphasizing the current limitations of CCS as a solely storage-focused solution.
In the United States, whether tax incentives for carbon capture will persist remains uncertain. These credits are seen as essential for the viability of future projects, including proposed ammonia and hydrogen plants, which might not proceed without them. Though part of a Senate Finance Committee bill, the impact of inflation could undermine their effectiveness, potentially affecting investments critical for maintaining U.S. competitiveness on the global stage.
While not a standalone solution for climate change, experts agree that carbon capture is a valuable tool for reducing emissions from heavy industries, complementing the broader adoption of renewable energy sources. CCS is viewed as one aspect of the multifaceted efforts needed to combat climate change effectively.