How can advancements in technology, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), contribute to lowering emissions from high-polluting industries?
Advancements in technology, like carbon capture and storage (CCS), can play a crucial role in reducing emissions from high-polluting industries. CCS involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced by power plants and industrial facilities, then permanently storing them underground. This helps prevent CO2 from being released into the atmosphere and contributing to climate change. By implementing CCS technology, high-polluting industries can continue operating while significantly reducing their carbon footprint.
Long answer
High-polluting industries, such as power generation, cement production, steelmaking, and refining processes, account for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions. While transitioning towards cleaner energy sources through renewables is essential in addressing climate change, these industries are often highly reliant on fossil fuels or energy-intensive processes that cannot be easily replaced.
Advancements in technology present an opportunity to mitigate emissions from these industries. One such advancement is the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) techniques. CCS involves three main steps: capturing CO2 emissions at the source, transporting the captured CO2 to a suitable storage location via pipeline or ships, and permanently storing it deep underground in saline formations or depleted oil reservoirs.
The first step of capturing CO2 emissions can be achieved through various technologies such as post-combustion capture (PCC), pre-combustion capture (PCC), or oxy-fuel combustion. Post-combustion capture removes CO2 directly from flue gases emitted by power plants or industrial processes. Pre-combustion capture involves converting fossil fuels into syngas before generating electricity or producing other products. Oxy-fuel combustion burns fuel with oxygen instead of air to produce flue gases primarily composed of CO2.
The second step involves safely transporting captured CO2 for storage purposes. Pipelines are commonly used for this purpose due to their efficiency and ability to transport large volumes of CO2 over long distances without significant leakage. Alternatively, CO2 can be transported by ships or trucks in smaller quantities when pipeline infrastructure is not available.
The final step of permanent storage prevents the released CO2 from re-entering the atmosphere. Suitable geological formations for storage must have features that ensure long-term containment, including sufficient capacity, structural integrity, and effective trapping mechanisms. These formations include deep saline aquifers (porous rocks underground) and depleted oil and gas reservoirs, which possess suitable characteristics to securely retain captured CO2.
By deploying CCS technology in high-polluting industries, emissions can be significantly reduced without sacrificing industrial production. This allows industries with limited substitutes for fossil fuels or energy-intensive processes to actively contribute to global emission reduction targets. However, it’s important to note that CCS alone cannot solve the climate crisis; it should be viewed as a transitional measure while efforts are made to amplify renewable energy deployment and make industrial processes more sustainable.