Carbon capture critical for addressing climate crisis

• Published date: 15 April 2024
• Publication title: Irish Times (Dublin, Ireland)

It is dividing climate scientists and policymakers. One camp says it is distracting from timely implementation of known solutions to climate change, when technologies – such as direct air capture and carbon capture and storage (CCS) – are immensely costly and unproven at scale. They absorb CO2 from the air and then release a stream of the concentrated gas that can either be buried in the ground, or sold as a useful product such as synthetic jet fuel – essentially, recycling CO2

In the other camp are those who say the climate crisis requires bigger technological plays – such is the extent of failure to contain temperature rise arising from burning fossil fuels pushing towards dangerous tipping points. Some in this techno-fix brigade even support risky forms of “geoengineering” including scrambling weather – such as modifying solar radiation or brightening clouds – in an attempt to stabilise the planet.

It could be transformative in containing global temperatures and saving civilisation. Getting it wrong could exacerbate any degree of climate control and predictability we retain at present.

The issue is forcing its way on to agendas at climate Cop negotiations hosted by the UN, with blatant pushing of CCS by petrostates. Two factors are ensuring CO2-removal technologies are going mainstream. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (arguably the most authoritative specialists) concluded last year, after exhaustive evaluation, that CCS is technologically feasible and could play a significant role over the coming century. Secondly, big business is facing up to its sustainability obligations in drastically reducing its carbon footprint, and purchasing credits – investing in forest preservation, renewable energy projects or carbon sequestration – to get there as quickly as possible.

Two projects reflect the ambition; Carbfix’s Mammoth project in Iceland and Occidental Petroleum’s Stratos project in Texas – the latter also raises concerns that this course means Big Oil, the biggest source of carbon pollution, will persist with its activities.

Carbfix has developed a way of capturing and storing CO2 in water, and injecting it into basalt formations up to a mile below ground through an elaborate system of pipes. This forms stable carbonate minerals, capturing the gas in the igneous rock. The world’s largest carbon storage facility is powered by geothermal energy and due to be fully operational in May with a promise of storing 36,000 metric tonnes of CO2...