An overview of CO2 capture and utilization in energy models

Abstract

The recycling and utilization of CO2 is gaining interest in the fight against global warming. Considering CO2 not as a waste or a pollutant but as an opportunity is a concept that could prove promising for producing clean fuels in the future, as well as for producing chemicals, plastics and building materials. The extent of the benefits of Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) is still uncertain due to its many interactions with the rest of the energy system, and several energy models are trying to explore this area. As the global climate issue becomes an urgent policy priority, the scientific community is helping decision-makers choose the optimal technologies to successfully meet climate targets and decarbonize society. This paper reviews energy models that represent CCU as a decarbonization solution in an effort to understand and identify knowledge and modeling gaps. The results first show that CO2 utilization is still poorly represented, and that when it is, it is rarely fully integrated. The conversion of CO2 into fuels or chemicals is by far the most modeled of all the options CCU encompasses, while other key technologies for the decarbonization of the industry sector are barely considered. We discuss current CCU modeling methods and provide recommendations for future modelers who want to implement this set of technologies in their models. Additionally, we discuss the socioeconomic drivers and barriers that could support or discourage the deployment of CCU in the future energy mix.