Overview of CCS: A Strategy of Meeting CO2 Emission Targets

Abstract

In the present context of climate change, mitigating greenhouse gas emission is the greatest challenge for the survival of life in the earth. Energy sector is considered as the main source of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emission. This is due to increase in secondary energy demand, consumption of fossil fuels is also increasing. As a result, CO2 emission becomes an inevitable fact. Hence, anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emission of energy sector is also increasing. This GHG emission is the main reason behind the global warming as indicated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). To reduce the GHG emission associated with fossil fuel combustion, carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a promising option. It gives the opportunity to capture CO2 from different sources like power generation from fossil fuels, steel production, cement production, biomass based power generation etc. After capturing this CO2, it is transported and stored in suitable geological formation or it may be utilized for value added products. The CCS helps to reduce the greenhouse gas emission of energy sector. Hence, it decreases the carbon footprint due to electricity production. Though a few technologies of CCS are already commercialized, some technologies are at research and developmental stage. In this article, an overview and some state of the art carbon capture technologies are discussed. Different CO2 transport and storage options are explored. Integration of CCS with various industries e.g., power, iron and steel, cement are also discussed. Net ‘negative-CO2’ emission technology and present status of CCS are also explored in this article.