CO2 capture and utilization: Money out of thin air

Carbon capture and utilization is widely being pursued as a means of achieving net zero emissions goals, with technologies to capture emissions from both the atmosphere and from industrial sources rapidly being commercialized and deployed. Likewise, significant interest, focus, and development is occurring in technologies to not only store, but also to utilize this captured carbon.

Several options or categories exist for sources and ways of capturing carbon. Each have advantages and disadvantages, and target different sources of carbon.

CO2 Capture and Utilization: Money out of Thin Air

Several options are emerging to utilize carbon dioxide as a feedstock for fuels. These can have very low carbon intensities, depending upon the sources of both power and carbon to feed the process. There are only a few dominant routes currently to CO2 utilization, which include PTL (via both FT and methanol), advanced ethanol, and indirect routes via biomass.

CO2 Capture and Utilization

In general, as this CO2 is rereleased upon combustion, this can be a route to carbon neutrality, but would generally stop short of carbon negativity (unless there is a significant byproduct that is stored).

Alternatively, if the carbon is turned into a chemical (and in particular, used to make a durable good), the result can be carbon neutral or negative. The duration of use and/or the product lifetime can help inform whether the carbon is stored

CO2 Capture and Utilization Blog

If turned into materials for construction, furniture, or other durable goods expected to last decades, it can be seen as effectively sequestered. Alternatively, if turned into polymers for single use, and subsequently landfilled, this can also be seen as effectively sequestering the carbon. Plastics are also more carbon dense than carbon dioxide, generally non-degrading, and non-gaseous – thus similar to biomass can be more effectively and efficiently stored than gaseous carbon. It should be noted that many of the routes to chemicals go through the same intermediates as the fuels—though generally the incentives and subsidy only exist for the fuels.

Key Reports in this Space

NexantECA has been active producing many recent technoeconomic (Biorenewable Insights and TECH) and market focused (Market Insights and Market Scenario Planning) reports in this space:

The Author...

Steve Slome, Biorenewable Insights Program Manager

About Us - NexantECA, the Energy and Chemicals Advisory company is the leading advisor to the energy, refining, and chemical industries. Our clientele ranges from major oil and chemical companies, governments, investors, and financial institutions to regulators, development agencies, and law firms. Using a combination of business and technical expertise, with deep and broad understanding of markets, technologies and economics, NexantECA provides solutions that our clients have relied upon for over 50 years.

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