Wed Sep 25 09:00:01 UTC 2024: ## Carbon Capture Technology Faces Steep Challenges to Meet Climate Goals
A new study published in *Nature Climate Change* casts doubt on the ability of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to significantly contribute to achieving the Paris Climate Agreement’s goals. While CCS is essential for reducing emissions from certain industries and even achieving negative emissions, researchers from Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Bergen warn that its deployment is unlikely to scale fast enough to meet the 1.5°C target, and even achieving the 2°C target will be a stretch.
The study analyzed historical data and projected future growth of CCS technology, concluding that no more than 600 Gigatons (Gt) of CO2 can be sequestered through CCS over the 21st century. This falls short of many climate mitigation pathways proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), some of which rely on upwards of 1,000 Gt of CO2 captured and stored by 2100.
“Our analysis shows that we are unlikely to capture and store more than 600 Gt over the 21st century,” says Dr. Tsimafei Kazlou, the study’s lead author. “This, coupled with the need for rapid deployment, makes achieving the 1.5°C target highly improbable.”
The study also highlights the challenges in scaling up CCS technology. While ambitious plans for CCS expansion exist, past failure rates are concerning. If historical trends continue, CCS capacity in 2030 would be insufficient to significantly impact climate change.
“Even though there are ambitious plans for CCS, there are big doubts about whether these are feasible,” says Dr. Kazlou. “About 15 years ago, during another wave of interest in CCS, planned projects failed at a rate of almost 90%. If historic failure rates continue, capacity in 2030 will be at most twice what it is today, which would be insufficient for climate targets.”
The study emphasizes the need for robust policy support for CCS, coupled with accelerated deployment of other decarbonization technologies like solar and wind power.
“Rapid deployment of CCS needs strong support schemes to make CCS projects financially viable,” says Professor Aleh Cherp from Central European University. “At the same time, our results show that since we can only count on CCS to deliver 600 Gt of CO2 captured and stored over the 21st century, other low-carbon technologies like solar and wind power need to expand even faster.”
The authors urge governments and industry leaders to prioritize both the development and deployment of CCS technology while also focusing on scaling up renewable energy sources to effectively address the climate crisis.
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