What Is Carbon Capture & Its Impact on a Sustainable Future?

Carbon capture and storage is becoming one of the most important technologies available to support global climate goals. 

As emissions rise globally, international bodies including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlight that cutting emissions alone is no longer enough to limit temperature increases to 1.5°C. 

Technologies that prevent or remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere are forming a vital part of the global response. 

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) offers a practical solution for sectors where decarbonisation is difficult, helping to prevent vast volumes of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere.

What is CCS?

CCS or carbon sequestration, refers to technologies that capture CO₂ emissions at the point they are produced and store them permanently underground. 

“Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) is essential for reducing emissions from heavy industries,” says Olivia Powis, CEO at the Carbon Capture and Storage Association.

“It can also be used to generate low-carbon power by gas power stations with carbon capture and storage as well as enabling hydrogen power. 

“These sources of power are important for when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing.”

According to National Grid, CCS focuses on emissions from power generation and industrial processes such as cement, steel and hydrogen production. 

Once captured, CO₂ is transported by pipeline, road or ship and injected deep into geological formations for permanent storage.

Suitable storage sites include saline aquifers and depleted oil or gas reservoirs, which must sit at least 1km underground. 

CCUS focuses not only on storing CO₂ but also on converting it into useful products including plastics, concrete or biofuel.

“Scaling CCU could be an economic opportunity while offering an additional path to abate CO₂ emissions,” said Fernando Gómez, Head of the Future of Materials at the World Economic Forum. 

“With credible policy signals, long-term investment and cross-sector partnerships, CO₂ could mature from a liability into an asset creating new market value while accelerating industrial decarbonization.”

How does CCS work?

CCS follows a three stage process and according to industry body the Global CCS Institute, CCS is a proven technology that has been in safe operation for more than 45 years.

Capture
CO₂ is separated from other gases produced by industrial activity, including steelworks, cement plants and coal or natural-gas-fired power stations.

Capture methods vary depending on the facility but generally purify CO₂ so it can be economically transported.

Transport
After separation, the CO₂ is compressed into a liquid and dehydrated, then transported to a storage location.

Large-scale CO₂ transport already takes place globally via pipelines, tanks and shipping routes.

Storage
Finally, the CO₂ is injected into deep rock formations at depths of one kilometre or more.

These formations are similar to those that have trapped oil and gas for millions of years, providing long-term containment.

“CCUS provides the lowest cost pathway to reaching net zero which is why the independent Climate Change Committee has declared it a ‘necessity, not an option,’ says Chris Stark, former CEO at the Climate Change Committee and Head of Mission Control for Clean Power 2030 at the Department of Energy Security & Net Zero.

"CCUS gives a range of options to decarbonise that would otherwise not be possible and it minimises the climate warming emissions released to the atmosphere on our journey to net zero.

"It will be an important part of our industrial future.”

What are the benefits of carbon capture and storage?

The IPCC’s latest assessment identifies CCS as a critical mitigation option, particularly in heavy industrial sectors where alternative solutions are limited.

By preventing CO₂ from reaching the atmosphere, CCS could offer immediate and significant reductions in emissions that would otherwise be extremely difficult to avoid. 

According to the International Maritime Organization: "CCS can be combined with bioenergy (BECCS) to reduce harmful emissions, effectively removing CO₂ from the atmosphere. This combination is vital for scenarios that limit global warming to 1.5°C or 2°C."

“CCUS technologies are critical to put energy systems around the world on a sustainable path,” says Mathilde Fajardy, Energy Technology & Policy Analyst at the International Energy Agency.

“The cost of a project depends heavily on the source of the CO2 captured, the distance and mode used to transport it, as well as where and how it is stored. 

“The cost of CCUS also needs to be considered against alternative decarbonisation options – in some cases, CCUS may be the only option available today.”

Global deployment is accelerating.

The Global CCS Institute reported 194 large-scale projects worldwide in 2022, up from 51 in 2019.

While CCS is not a substitute for broader emission-reduction efforts it forms an important measure within a wider portfolio of climate solutions.

With the right regulation, investment and long-term strategy, CCS can support a more stable pathway to net zero by preventing emissions that cannot yet be eliminated.

Inside Carbon Management Strategies

At Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit, Sustainability Magazine will be hosting panel discussions on the path to net zero, the energy transition and carbon management strategies

The two-day event is set to take place at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in Westminster, London, between the 4-5 March 2026, bringing together sustainability experts from around the globe for a series of enlightening panel discussions, engaging workshops and unparalleled networking opportunities.

Carbon capture, net zero and sustainability will be high up on the agenda, especially during the panel on Carbon Management Strategies. 

Explore how diverse leadership is driving real progress at Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit in Spring.

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