When it comes to climate change and global warming, we all support a global shift towards clean, renewable energy. We also endorse protecting rainforests and planting more trees.
The problem is that these solutions will take time – decades – to reach the scale and efficacy needed to combat climate change and stop global heating.
We don’t have years to spare, and we must reduce the amount of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere before we reach the critical point of no return. So, what is the solution?
Carbon capture companies are leading the fight against climate change and global warming.
They’re developing and deploying new, scalable carbon capture technology that will enable us to stop the flow of carbon into the atmosphere and even remove the historical carbon dioxide that we’ve already emitted.
Let’s look at carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology and some of the best carbon capture companies that are leading the way toward achieving our climate goals.
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What is Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage?
Carbon capture and storage (CCS), also known simply as ‘carbon capture,’ is the process of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and preventing their release into the atmosphere.
CCS involves capturing carbon, processing it into a suitable form, and transferring it to suitable underground storage or sequestration sites. These sites vary, and different technologies use different geologic formations as storage sites.
Common types include oil and gas reservoirs, coal seams that are unsuitable for mining, or deep saline reservoirs. The structures used to store carbon underground are the same ones that have naturally stored carbon, crude oil, natural gas, and other substances for millions of years.
In certain instances, captured CO₂ can be repurposed to be used in the production of manufactured products and utilized in various industrial processes instead of being stored underground. This approach is commonly called Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage or (CCUS)
Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) is sometimes used interchangeably with the term ‘carbon capture’ but the two terms refer to different things. Carbon capture is about preventing emissions from causing warming in the first place, whereas carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is about reversing the emissions that cause warming.
This is a safe and permanent solution, which removes carbon from the atmosphere and negates the greenhouse gas effect that drives global heating and climate change.
Check out this short video by Freethink on carbon capture technology and how it works:
The Economics of Carbon Capture
Currently, the cost of capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) varies significantly based on the technology and application:
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Industrial Processes: For processes like ethanol production or natural gas processing, capturing CO₂ costs approximately $15 to $25 per ton.
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Dilute Gas Streams: In industries such as cement production and power generation, where CO₂ concentrations are lower, the cost increases to between $40 and $120 per ton.
Regarding the European Union’s carbon pricing, the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) has experienced fluctuations:
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Record Highs: In February 2023, the EU carbon permit price reached a record €100.34 (~$105) per ton of CO₂.
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Recent Trends: By February 2024, prices had declined to around €50(~$55) per ton, influenced by factors such as increased supply and reduced industrial activity.
These developments highlight the dynamic nature of carbon pricing and the ongoing challenges in balancing emission reduction goals with economic considerations.
The oil and gas industry is a global leader in developing and deploying CO2 capture technology. One way to scale up the carbon capture industry would be to boost demand for captured CO2.
Offering carbon capture as a means of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) may provide enough revenue for continued investment, innovation, and technology development.
The idea is that carbon capture and utilization (CCU) can be used as an “on-ramp” for eventual carbon capture and storage (CCS), pushing down the costs of carbon capture and laying down some of the foundational infrastructure, like pipelines, needed for eventual CCS at scale.
Why Carbon Capture is Critical for Our Climate
Most people are already aware of the need to switch to renewable energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions at the source.
The problem is that we can’t do that quickly enough, at the scale needed to power the whole world and the ever-increasing demand for electricity and fuel.
In 2016, the Paris Agreement came into effect, intending to prevent global heating from increasing our temperature by more than 1.5 to 2C. If we had decades to achieve this, a steady shift to renewables would be the solution.
However, the harsh truth is that we are rapidly running out of time, and at the rate we currently produce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide, we simply cannot meet that target.
Surpassing the 1.5C and even 2C rise in global temperatures will have catastrophic consequences for every form of life on earth. It will impact everything we, as a planet, rely on to survive.
As global populations increase and economies grow, the demand for electricity and fuel is also increasing.
This, coupled with the challenges of establishing renewable energy plants, means we will need to rely on fossil fuels for energy and transportation for many years to come.
Carbon Capture – Working Toward A Climate Solution
So, what is the solution? How do we continue to power the world and all its essential processes for humanity without pumping out so much carbon? How do we deal with all the carbon that is already in the atmosphere after decades of negligence?
Accelerating the development and implementation of carbon capture technology is possibly our only viable option for stemming the flow of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and removing historical carbon to lessen the impact.
Carbon capture technology has existed for decades but has not been widely adopted due to its high cost and other limitations.
However, many great carbon capture companies have developed and refined their technology to create safe, effective, clean, and, most importantly, scalable solutions.
The 4 Main Carbon Capture Methods
Various carbon capture methods have emerged in the quest to combat climate change. Each approach plays a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Let’s explore the 4 main methods:
Bioenergy with Carbon Capture & Storage (BECCS)
BECCS, short for bioenergy with carbon capture and storage. BECCS begins with growing organic matter (biomass), commonly wood or compost. This biomass is subsequently converted into renewable bioenergy—electricity, liquid or gas fuels, or heat. BECCS is currently considered more cost-effective and scalable than other methods of carbon capture.
This technique not only serves as an alternative to fossil fuel energy but also actively removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. While burning biomass is considered carbon neutral, BECCS captures and sequesters the emitted carbon underground, making it carbon-negative.
Balancing environmental benefits with economic feasibility remains a critical challenge for widespread BECCS
Direct Air Capture (DAC)
DAC or Direct Air Capture involves directly capturing carbon dioxide from ambient air. Unlike BECCS, which relies on biomass, DAC doesn’t require organic matter.
It’s a promising piece of the CO₂ removal puzzle, alongside nature-based solutions, soil sequestration, and marine initiatives.
DAC currently operates on a small scale, although its potential impact is significant. Continued policy support and market mechanisms are essential for realizing its full effectiveness.
Post-Combustion Capture (PCC)
Post-combustion capture focuses on capturing CO₂ after combustion in power plants or industrial processes. It’s a crucial technology for retrofitting existing facilities. Implementing post-combustion capture faces economic and energy efficiency challenges, but it’s essential for reducing emissions from existing infrastructure.
PCC plays a crucial role in reducing emissions damage as we transition away from traditional energy processes.
That said, although this method is not a long-term solution for carbon capture and is not considered cost-effective as it can be adapted to existing infrastructure.
Biological Carbon Capture and Utilization (BioCCU) or Nature-based Solutions
Nature-based solutions leverage ecosystems to capture and store carbon. The benefit of these solutions is that there is no need to invent them; they already exist and do their job effectively.
This takes advantage of the biological mechanisms through which natural systems process and store carbon and other harmful gases. For instance, many sustainable agricultural practices long used by farmers absorb and store carbon dioxide in productive soils.
These solutions fall into four categories: forestry practices, wetland-related practices, restorative agriculture, and ocean-based practices. Nature-based solutions not only combat climate change but also support biodiversity and ecosystem health.
16 Leading Carbon Capture and Sequestration Companies
These carbon capture companies are championing the fight to reduce carbon emissions. They are experts in carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and play a crucial role in ambitious initiatives to lessen the effects of climate change.
By taking in and preserving carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, industrial processes, and other sources, these companies are making a more sustainable future possible,
4 Companies Using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture & Storage (BECCS)
Here are 4 companies at the forefront of integrating BECCS technologies to mitigate climate change by removing CO2 from the atmosphere and effectively utilizing biomass energy sources.
Charm
Charm Industrial is a US-based company founded in 2018 that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by converting agricultural and forestry biomass residues into bio-oil through a process called fast pyrolysis.
Charm’s business model revolves around selling carbon removal credits to companies looking to offset their emissions or support the development of carbon removal technologies.
Notable customers include Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta, Shopify, Stripe, McKinsey, and JPMorgan Chase. The company has delivered over 7,200 tonnes of permanent carbon removal to date
Charm Industrial employs a technology known as fast pyrolysis to convert agricultural and forestry biomass residues into a carbon-rich bio-oil.
This process involves heating biomass, such as corn stover and wheat straw, at high temperatures (over 500°C) in the absence of oxygen. This rapid heating transforms the biomass into bio-oil within seconds, which is then injected into EPA-regulated deep geological wells for permanent carbon sequestration.
Aker Carbon Capture
Carbon capture per year (in tonnes of CO2): 400,000
Aker utilizes Post-Combustion Capture (PCC). Their technology focuses on capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) in various industrial processes, such as power plants, cement factories, and steel mills.
Aker Carbon Capture employs a proprietary amine-based technology that is energy-efficient and scalable, making it suitable for various industrial applications. The captured CO2 can be utilized for many purposes or safely stored in geological formations, reducing the overall carbon footprint.
Even though the carbon capture unit of Aker is newly developed, the technology is mature and carries 20 years of Aker Solutions’ carbon capture experience, experts, and project references.
Aker Carbon Capture ASA is a leading Norwegian company developing advanced carbon capture technologies. Their mission is to provide efficient and cost-effective solutions to capture CO2 emissions from various industrial sources, including cement factories, waste-to-energy plants, and power generation facilities. Aker is one of the few and largest publicly traded carbon capture companies, listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange in August 2020.
Carbfix
Carbon capture (in tonnes of CO2): 1 billion/lifetime
Carbfix is based in Iceland, where they have been operating at the Hellisheiði Power Plant since 2014. In 2019, they were established as a subsidiary of Reykjavik Energy (OR) and have been operating as a separate entity since January 2020.
Their mission is to become a “key instrument in tackling the climate crisis by reaching one billion tons of permanently stored CO2 (1 GtCO2) as rapidly as possible”.
(BECCS) Carbfix captures carbon emissions at the source from the emitter (power plant or other industry). Carbon is then dissolved in water and injected underground into naturally occurring reactive rock formations of suitable composition (basalt).
Here, the carbon reacts with elements that are naturally present to form stable minerals. These stable minerals provide a permanent carbon sink, and over time, they turn to stone.
This process was thought to take hundreds of years to occur, however, the Carbfix pilot project undertaken in 2012 showed that they were able to achieve the desired result within two years.
This makes their technology unique and highly effective in capturing carbon and storing it in a safe, stable, and permanent manner.
Carbon8
Carbon capture per year (in tonnes of CO2): 400,000 tons
Carbon8 Systems (C8S) is a UK-based company that specializes in carbon capture and utilization solutions, particularly for the construction industry. Founded in 2006 as a spin-out from the University of Greenwich, Carbon8 employs a method known as Accelerated Carbonation Technology (ACT).
This technology captures carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial processes and utilizes it to treat industrial waste, effectively turning it into reusable materials for construction purposes.
The company’s innovative approach allows for the creation of carbon-negative aggregates, which can be used in cement blocks, road fillers, and green roofing substrates.
Their mobile carbon capture system, branded as CO₂ntainer, can process up to 12,000 metric tons of residues annually, showcasing a practical application of carbon capture in reducing the carbon footprint of construction projects.
In recent developments, Carbon8 has partnered with FLSmidth to expand its technology’s reach in the mining and cement sectors, and has also engaged with Return Carbon to extend its operations in Belgium and the Netherlands.
4 Companies Using Direct Air Capture (DAC)
These 4 companies are developing cost-effective, scalable DAC technologies to help mitigate climate change through direct atmospheric carbon removal.
Carbon Engineering
Carbon capture per year (in tonnes of CO2): 1 million
Carbon Engineering was established in 2009, in Calgary, Canada. They moved to Squamish in 2015, where they built their pilot plant to capture carbon directly from the atmosphere and either store it safely underground or convert it to synthetic fuel.
Carbon Engineering has since partnered with companies in the US and the UK to collect and sequester atmospheric carbon, as well as several other companies worldwide to produce clean fuel from the carbon they collect.
This company uses Direct Air Capture (DAC) in the form of an air contactor, where a huge fan pulls in the air and this air passes over thin plastic structures coated in a potassium hydroxide solution.
This solution removes carbon from the air and binds it to a liquid solution, where it remains as a carbonate salt. The air is then released minus the carbon.
The carbonate salt solution is then run through a series of chemical processes that purify, concentrate, and compress it.
Carbonate salts are separated from the solution into pellets, which are then heated in a calciner to release a pure carbon gas that can be reused or stored underground.
The remaining pellets are then hydrated and recycled back into the system to make the original capture chemical.
Global Thermostat
Carbon capture per year (in tonnes of CO2): 4,000
Global Thermostat was established in the US in 2010. Its patented technology captures and concentrates carbon directly from the atmosphere and/or industrial emissions. The carbon is then sold to various industries, which can reuse it in their manufacturing processes.
This approach makes carbon capture a profitable endeavor rather than a financial liability for the emitting body. It also makes it a potential business operation for those who wish to capture atmospheric carbon and sell it to industries that need it.
Their modular system allows for individual plants to be erected in any location without the geological limitations that carbon storage technologies face.
This company utilizes Direct Air Capture (DAC). Their impressively engineered machinery captures carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere with a capacity exceeding 1,000 tons per year.
Global Thermostat uses specialized equipment and proprietary amine-based (dry) chemical ‘sorbents,’ which are bonded to honeycomb ceramic ‘monoliths.’
The ceramic monoliths, coated with the dry amine-based sorbents, soak up or absorb carbon from the surrounding atmosphere. This may be directly from the open-air or concentrated emission sites like flues or smokestacks.
The carbon is then stripped back out of the monoliths and collected using low-temperature steam (85-100C). This results in 98% pure carbon, which can be transferred to locations where other industries need it.
Ideally, the steam used is generated by residual or process heat from the operation of the site where carbon is being collected, which means that no new energy is required for the process and reduces the cost of operation.
Climeworks
Carbon capture per year (in tonnes of CO2): 4,000
Climeworks is a carbon capture company based in Zurich, Switzerland, established in 2009. However, their technology has been in development since 2007.
Climeworks is the largest company offering carbon capture services that capture carbon directly from the air. They’re currently building a new direct air capture plant called Orca in Iceland.
This company is using its own technology to capture CO2 and then using Carbfix’s technology for underground storage. The plant aims to capture 4000 tons of CO₂ per year – making it the world’s biggest climate-positive facility to date. In addition to Orca, they have over 6500 smaller plants in operation with various partners.
Climeworks uses modular Direct Air Capture (DAC) CO2 collectors that capture carbon dioxide and remove unavoidable CO2 emissions, as well as historic CO₂ emissions. The collectors can be stacked to create machines of various sizes as suited to the location and end-use of the carbon collected.
Climeworks’ carbon collectors use a two-step process. The air is drawn into the collector by a fan and collected on the surface of a special filter material inside the collector. The next step occurs when the filter is full, and the collector closes. Once it is closed, the temperature is raised to 80-100C, which releases the carbon.
It is then collected in its pure and highly concentrated form, ready to be piped away for reuse or underground storage.
The Orca plant in Iceland uses the storage technology by Carbfix, where CO2 is mixed with water and injected into basalt rock formations. There it is mineralized and forms rock, locking the carbon in place within a few years.
Climeworks collectors are powered using renewable energy or energy-from-waste. Their grey emission is under 10%, a very low level of re-emission.
Capture6
Carbon capture per year (in tonnes of CO2): 5 million
Capture6 is a pioneering company in the field of Direct Air Capture (DAC), focusing on creating sustainable solutions for permanent CO₂ removal.
Their approach integrates carbon capture with water management, enabling the production of clean water alongside carbon removal.
Capture6’s DAC technology is designed to capture CO₂ directly from the atmosphere and convert it into valuable by-products, such as green hydrogen and lithium while addressing water scarcity issues.
This dual approach not only aids in carbon removal but also enhances local water availability.
Capture6 aims to provide cost-effective carbon removal solutions, focusing on scalability. Their systems can be adapted to various geographical locations and are designed to operate using renewable energy sources, making them versatile and energy-positive.
4 Companies Using Post-Combustion Capture (PPC)
These four companies are each contributing unique innovations and solutions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes effectively.
Calix Ltd
Carbon capture per year (in tonnes of CO2): 50,000 metric tons
Calix is an innovative Australian company focused on developing technologies for industrial decarbonization, particularly in the cement and lime sectors. Its core PPC technology, known as LEILAC (Low Emissions Intensity Lime and Cement), employs a unique indirect heating process to efficiently capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions during the production of lime and cement.
This process involves heating limestone in specialized steel tubes, allowing for the separation of CO₂ released from the raw material, which is responsible for a significant portion of emissions in these industries.
Calix’s patented platform enables efficient indirect heating, which is crucial for reducing carbon emissions. The heating occurs externally, using various energy sources, while the minerals are heated as they pass through the tubes.
This method not only enhances energy efficiency but also captures pure CO₂ emissions, which can then be stored or utilized.
The LEILAC technology is particularly significant because it addresses the unavoidable emissions from limestone processing, which constitute about two-thirds of the total CO₂ emissions in cement production.
Quest Carbon Capture and Storage by Shell
Carbon capture per year (in tonnes of CO2): 7.7 million
Quest is Shell Global’s carbon capture installation at their Scotford Upgrader power plant in Alberta, Canada. It is run and owned by the international energy conglomerate, who use it to remove the carbon generated at the power plant when converting bitumen from sand into oil.
The carbon is then piped to a separate location and injected 2km underground into permeable geologic formations, where it stays permanently.
This facility’s oil-making process requires hydrogen to make the oil lighter, but this also produces carbon dioxide emissions. To combat this, Quest by Shell uses Post-Combustion Capture (PCC) to capture the carbon and pipe it away in liquid form to be injected and stored underground.
Quest’s technology is fairly simple and uses an amine to absorb carbon. The carbon is then separated from the amine and compressed. This turns the CO2 gas into a liquid, which is then piped away to be injected into porous underground rock formations.
The liquid CO2 is piped 65km away from the plant through various well sites and then injected over 2km underground into suitable porous rock formations. Here, it will remain for thousands of years and is considered a permanent solution.
CarbonFree
Carbon capture per year (in tonnes of CO2): 50,000 metric tons
CarbonFree Chemicals Holdings, LLC, based in Texas, specializes in carbon capture and utilization technologies, particularly through its proprietary SkyCycle™ and SkyMine® systems.
The company aims to address industrial carbon emissions by transforming captured CO2 into valuable chemicals, such as precipitated calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid.
CarbonFree’s SkyCycleTM technology is the only method that can both permanently store captured carbon and turn it into limestone blocks or purify it into precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), a specialty chemical that sells for over $800 per ton.
PCC is used in a variety of industries, including paper, plastics, ceramics, paints, and food production
CarbonFree’s SkyMine plant, the world’s first and largest industrial-scale carbon mineralization facility, has been capturing flue gas from a cement plant in San Antonio since 2016.
The plant is capable of turning 50,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide into baking soda yearly and made $50 million in revenue last year from a $150 million plant
Carbon Clean
Carbon Clean is a prominent player in the field of carbon capture technology, focusing on helping industries reduce their carbon emissions.
Founded in 2009 and headquartered in London, the company has expanded its operations internationally, with offices in India, Spain, and the United States.
It specializes in point-source carbon capture solutions, targeting hard-to-abate sectors such as cement, steel, and oil and gas.
Carbon Clean employs advanced carbon capture technologies aimed at reducing industrial CO2 emissions, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors like cement, steel, and oil and gas.
CycloneCC: This is Carbon Clean’s flagship technology, designed to address historical challenges in carbon capture related to size and cost.
CycloneCC is a fully modular, prefabricated system that is approximately 50% smaller than conventional carbon capture plants and can capture CO2 at a cost that is up to 50% lower per tonne. It utilizes a combination of advanced amine-promoted buffer salt solvent technology and rotating packed beds (RPBs) to enhance efficiency.
The modular nature allows for rapid installation—typically within eight weeks—and the ability to scale up operations as needed, making it suitable for small to mid-sized emission sources.
Proprietary Solvent: Carbon Clean has developed a unique solvent that optimizes carbon capture performance.
This solvent is formulated with fast-reacting amines and high-capacity salts, resulting in greater stability and lower regeneration energy requirements compared to traditional amine solvents.
Semi-modular Systems: The company also offers semi-modular carbon capture systems that can be standardized in capacities ranging from 10 to 300 tonnes per day (TPD). About 80% of these systems are modularized, which significantly lowers installation times and on-site activities compared to traditional open plant constructions.
4 Companies Using Biological Carbon Capture and Utilization (BioCCU)
These companies exemplify the potential of BioCCU technologies to capture carbon emissions and convert them into useful products, thereby contributing to a more sustainable future.
LanzaTech
Carbon capture per year (in tonnes of CO2): 150,000
LanzaTech is a carbon refining company founded in 2005 and headquartered in Skokie, Illinois. The company specializes in transforming waste carbon into chemical building blocks for consumer goods, such as sustainable fuels, fabrics, and packaging.
LanzTech employs a Biological Carbon Capture and Utilization (BioCCU) or nature-based approach. This company’s technology captures and processes carbon-rich gases before they enter the atmosphere, transforming them into valuable and sustainable new products.
The company’s bio-recycling approach turns pollution, such as emissions from steel mills or landfill sites, into usable fuels and chemicals through a process akin to retrofitting a brewery onto an emission source.
Their innovative technology converts carbon using bacteria, creating a sustainable alternative to virgin fossil carbon in consumer goods and aviation fuel.
Carbon Upcycling Technologies
Carbon capture per year (in tonnes of CO2): 22,000
Carbon Upcycling Technologies is a Canadian company focused on turning CO2 emissions into valuable products. Their innovative approach captures CO2 emissions and combines them with solid feedstock to create enhanced nanoparticles.
This company uses Biological Carbon Capture and Utilization (BioCCU). Carbon Upcycling Technologies employs a process that captures CO2 emissions and combines them with solid feedstock to create enhanced nanoparticles.
These nanoparticles can be used to improve the properties of materials such as concrete, plastics, and batteries. The technology not only helps reduce CO2 emissions but also adds value to a wide range of products.
GigaBlue
GigaBlue employs advanced technology for carbon capture and sequestration, focusing on enhancing the natural processes of the ocean to combat climate change. Here are the key components of their technology:
Geo-Optimized Nutrient Particles: GigaBlue’s primary method involves deploying specially designed particles into the ocean. These particles are engineered to stimulate the growth of phytoplankton, which play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Advanced AI Prediction Engine: The company utilizes an AI-driven system that analyzes data from previous deployments and oceanographic studies. This engine determines the optimal composition and deployment locations for the nutrient particles, ensuring maximum efficiency in carbon capture.
Biological Carbon Pump Enhancement: GigaBlue’s approach enhances the biological carbon pump, where phytoplankton absorb CO2, die, and sink to the ocean floor, effectively sequestering carbon for thousands of years. This method mimics natural processes and aims to improve the overall carbon fixation rate significantly.
Particle Composition: The particles consist of a nutrient shell and a sedimentation core, designed to be safe for marine life and chemically stable, allowing them to remain effective for centuries.
CarbonBlue has developed a unique water-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology that extracts CO2 from water sources, which typically have a higher concentration of CO2 than the atmosphere. Their process involves three main steps:
1. Mineralization using Lime: The CO2-saturated water is mixed with calcium hydroxide, which then interacts with the dissolved carbon dioxide and forms a solid precipitate of limestone.
2. Regeneration & CO2 Extraction: CarbonBlue’s proprietary reactors significantly accelerate this process, making it more efficient compared to conventional methods. The resulting CO2 is then removed from the water.
3. Closing the Loop: The solid calcium carbonate is decomposed back into calcium hydroxide and CO2 in a second reactor, and the entire process is fully recycled, only requiring a source of energy to continue perpetually.
CarbonBlue
CarbonBlue is an innovative climate-tech startup based in Israel, founded in 2022, focused on developing advanced technologies for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from the environment.
The company has recently gained attention for its unique approach to capturing CO2, which involves utilizing water-based systems rather than traditional air capture methods.
CarbonBlue has developed a unique water-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology that extracts CO2 from water sources, which typically have a higher concentration of CO2 than the atmosphere. Their process involves three main steps:
1. Mineralization using Lime: The CO2-saturated water is mixed with calcium hydroxide, which then interacts with the dissolved carbon dioxide and forms a solid precipitate of limestone.
2. Regeneration & CO2 Extraction: CarbonBlue’s proprietary reactors significantly accelerate this process, making it more efficient compared to conventional methods. The resulting CO2 is then removed from the water.
3. Closing the Loop: The solid calcium carbonate is decomposed back into calcium hydroxide and CO2 in a second reactor, and the entire process is fully recycled, only requiring a source of energy to continue perpetually.
Government Policies and Incentives
Governments worldwide are implementing various policies and incentives to promote carbon capture initiatives, recognizing their crucial role in combating climate change.
Tax Credits and Subsidies
In the United States, the Section 45Q tax credit provides significant financial incentives for carbon capture projects.
Regulatory Frameworks
Many countries are developing comprehensive legal and regulatory frameworks for CCUS. These frameworks address issues such as effective stewardship of CCUS activities and the safe and secure storage of CO2.
International Agreements and Collaborations
The Paris Agreement, signed by 197 countries in 2015, emphasizes the importance of carbon capture technology in limiting global warming to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
Future Prospects and Emerging Technologies
The future of carbon capture looks promising, with several innovative technologies and approaches on the horizon.
Innovative Capture Methods
Researchers are developing novel materials and processes to enhance carbon capture efficiency. For instance, the University of Cambridge has created a low-energy carbon capture technology using charged activated charcoal, capable of absorbing CO2 directly from the air more effectively than conventional methods.
Potential Breakthroughs in Efficiency and Cost-Reduction
Advancements in materials science are leading to more efficient and cost-effective carbon capture solutions. The University of Surrey has made progress with Dual Function Materials (DFMs), which can capture CO2 and simultaneously convert it to synthetic natural gas at the same temperature, eliminating the need for additional processing stages.
Biohybrid photocatalysts, developed by researchers at MIT, mimic natural photosynthesis and show potential for making carbon capture more energy-efficient.
These technologies could vitally reduce the costs associated with carbon capture and storage.
Integration with Other Climate Change Mitigation Strategies
The development of carbon utilization technologies is also gaining traction, with captured CO2 being converted into valuable products such as fuels, industrial chemicals, and polymers.
This approach not only reduces emissions but also creates economic incentives for carbon capture. As these technologies continue to evolve and mature, they are expected to play a crucial role in achieving global climate goals and transitioning to a low-carbon future.
Final Thoughts
Many companies are doing great work to prevent current carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere. They also help to remove unavoidable and historic carbon directly from the air.
Eliminating carbon emissions by switching to renewable energy is ideal. However, this transition will take decades. We don’t have that much time in the fight against global heating.
Carbon capture and storage offers a viable and crucial solution for now. These technologies can help address historical emissions and reduce current ones. This approach supports our preparation for renewable energy transition.
It also aids in scaling operations to meet growing global energy demands. Carbon capture companies play a vital role in this interim period. They provide essential services while we work towards a fully renewable future.
References and Useful Resources
2021 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: The Paris Agreement
Center for Climate and Energy Solutions: Carbon Capture
The Guardian: Carbon Storage Technologies Critical for Meeting Climate Targets – IEA
The Guardian: What Is Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage – And Can It Trap Emissions?
NASA’s Global Climate Change Website: A Degree of Concern: Why Global Temperatures Matter – Part 1 and Part 2
Scientific American: Carbon Capture Technologies Are Improving Nicely
Future Bridge: The Allam-Fetvedt Cycle Infographic
Frequently Asked Questions
What is carbon capture, utilization and storage?
Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2), processing it into a suitable form, and then either transporting it for re-use or transferring it to suitable underground storage or sequestration sites. These sites vary and different technologies use different types of geologic formations as storage sites. Read the full article for more info.
Why do we need carbon capture technology?
Carbon capture technology allows us to capture CO2 emissions and either transform them into useful CO2 to use in industry or transfer them back into the earth, where they are safely stored deep underground. Carbon sequestration happens in nature all the time but we need carbon capture technology to speed up the process so that we can stop climate change in the little time we have left to do it. Read the full article for more info.
What are the best carbon capture companies?
There are loads of great, innovative carbon capture companies in operation. Seven of the best are:
1. Carbfix
2. Climeworks
3. Quest
4. NET Power
5. Global Thermostat
6. Carbon Engineering
7. CO2 Solutions
Read the full article for more info on each of these great companies and the carbon capture technology they use.