Assessment of CO2 storage potential and carbon capture, utilization and storage prospect in China

Abstract

Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) is regarded as a very promising technology to reduce CO2 emission in China, which could improve the contradiction between economic development and environment protection. In order to study the CO2 storage potential for deploying CCUS projects in China, considering China's special geological features and current national conditions, a new evaluation method of CO2 storage capacity was proposed using the mass balance approach combined with various CO2 storage mechanisms in different formations, and the CO2 storage capacity was calculated in saline aquifer for CO2-EWR, oil reservoir for CO2-EOR and coal bed for CO2-ECBM respectively. The result shows that China has great CO2 storage potential, which is estimated to be over 1841 Gt. The different features and application prospect of CO2-EWR, CO2-EOR and CO2-ECBM in China were analyzed, which give guidance on critical technologies breakthrough and costs reduction along the CCUS chain. With the joint effort and support by policy and finance, CCUS will make great contribution to the development of low carbon economy for China and the world.