What is Carbon Management?
Carbon management is a set of activities that aim to reduce, avoid, and remove greenhouse gas emissions to reach carbon neutrality and ultimately draw down the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These approaches are complementary and must be conducted simultaneously to be most effective. Some lower the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, while others remove the CO₂ that is already in the atmosphere.
The Global Carbon Management Foundation focuses on technological approaches that reduce emissions, produce lower-carbon products, and remove CO₂ from the atmosphere. CO₂ capture can be used to decarbonize cement, for example, lower emissions from energy-intensive activities like data centers, and even remove CO₂ from the atmosphere.
What is CCUS?
Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) is an integrated suite of technologies that can prevent large quantities of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO₂) from being released into the atmosphere.
Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage or CCUS refers to technologies that capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) and store it safely underground so that it does not contribute to climate change. CCUS includes capturing CO₂ from both emission sources (referred to as point-source capture) and directly from the atmosphere.
How CCUS Works Across Sectors
Point-source capture is when an emission source, like an industrial facility, is equipped with technology allowing the capture and diversion to storage of CO₂, preventing it from being emitted. It is also possible to remove CO₂ emissions from the atmosphere through direct air capture and storage (DACCS) or bioenergy with capture and storage (BECCS).
CCUS can be applied across sectors vital to our economy, including cement, steel, fertilizers, power generation and natural gas processing, and can be used to produce clean hydrogen.
How does CCUS work?
Step 1: Capture
During capture, CO₂ is separated from other gases produced at large industrial facilities – such as steel mills, cement plants, petrochemical facilities, coal, and gas power plants – or from the atmosphere. There are several capture methods in use – all are proven and effective, with different methods applied based on the emissions source.
Step 2: Transport
Once separated, the CO₂ is compressed for transportation. This means increasing pressure so that the CO₂ behaves like a liquid. The compressed CO₂ is then dehydrated before being sent to the transport system. Pipelines are the most common mode of transport for large quantities of CO₂. However CO₂ transport by ship, train, or truck are also options.
Step 3: Storage
CO₂ is injected into deep underground rock formations, often at depths of one kilometre or more, where it is permanently stored. These rock formations are consistent with what has held oil and gas underground for millions of years.
Carbon Management and Climate Change
The world’s leading climate and energy bodies – the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) – have outlined a clear and important role for carbon management in reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Moreover, experts agree that carbon management will be particularly vital for hard-to-abate sectors like cement and steel production, where no other viable solutions currently exist, and for removing CO₂ already in the atmosphere. Simply put, we are running out of time to reduce our global emissions, and it is becoming increasingly clear that any realistic path forward on climate action will include CCUS.
