Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) is often touted as a potential solution for carbon emissions and climate change. The idea behind CCS is that we can capture carbon and inject it into underground wells to be sealed away for hundreds, if not thousands of years. This gained traction in policy circles with the previous administration basing much of its climate policy around incentives for CCS. However, a new study published in Nature examines CCS’s potential at scale, and the findings are troubling. The study’s authors write:
“The technical potential for geologic carbon storage is commonly assumed to be vast, with estimates of available storage of around 10,000–40,000 GtCO2 in the scientific literature. Industry estimates are around 14,000 GtCO2, of which 13,400 GtCO2 is undiscovered and just 253 MtCO2 is considered currently economically viable… Here we establish a prudent planetary limit of around 1,460 (1,290–2,710) Gt of CO2 storage through a risk-based, spatially explicit analysis of carbon storage in sedimentary basins.”
If this study’s findings are sound, that means that CCS capacity has been overestimated by roughly 90%. While the remaining capacity could potentially see us through to 2200, the study’s findings underline just how much we don’t know about CCS. Companies may want to avoid over-reliance on CCS in their decarbonization plans. As the study points out, the current economically viable capacity of CCS is low, and there are other major risks to CCS projects.
Our members can learn more about carbon capture and sequestration here.
If you’re not already a PracticalESG.com member, sign up now and take advantage of our no-risk “100-Day Promise” – during the first 100 days as an activated member, you may cancel for any reason and receive a full refund. But it will probably pay for itself before then.
Members also save hours of research and reading time each week by using our filtered and curated library of ESG/sustainability resources covering over 100 sustainability subject areas – updated daily with practical and credible information compiled without the use of AI.
Are you a client of one of our Partners – SourceIntelligence, TRC, Kumi, Ecolumix, Elm Consulting Group International or Impakt IQ? Contact them for exclusive pricing packages for PracticalESG.
Practical Guidance for Companies, Curated for Clarity.
