FAQ

CCS is a new concept that raises many questions. The most frequently questions are answered below. More questions and answers are available at the Q&A site

CCS is short for CO₂ Capture and Storage.

CCS is a technological concept to reduce CO₂ emissions. The technology is applicable to large factories and fossil fuel power plants with large CO₂ emissions. With CCS the CO₂ is removed from the flue gas coming out of the factories and power plants. The CO₂ is then injected deep below the ground, instead of emitting it into the atmosphere, as is the case today. Read more.

CCS is a set of technologies that covers three main functions:

• First, the CO₂ is removed, or separated, from the flue gas coming out of factories and coal and gas power plants. This is called CO₂ capture.
• The CO₂ is then transported to a suitable storage site. The transport is carried out in pipelines. Ship transport is also an option for offshore CO₂ transport.
• The CO₂ is the injected into a suitable storage site deep below the ground. The storage site must be a geological formation that ensures safe storage without leaks.

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CO₂ is safe provided that careful selection and characterization of storage sites are performed.

In order to store CO₂ safely without leakage, the storage site must have a geology that stops the CO₂ from leaking back up to the surface. In general, that means a geology with open pores where the CO₂ can be stored and a solid rock on top of that to stop CO₂ from moving upwards.

But a small crack in that geology can result in CO₂ leaking up to the surface. It is therefore absolutely necessary to characterize potential storage sites before CO₂ injection begins to ensure that there are no cracks that can lead to CO₂ leaks. Read more.

Global warming is one of the most serious challenges facing mankind today. It is important to implement strategies to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing global warming.

The most obvious solutions are replacing fossil energy sources like coal, oil and natural gas with renewable energy sources and improved energy efficiency, which is using less energy and using it more efficiently. But these solutions cannot reduce greenhouse gas emissions sufficiently.

Experts says that the greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by 50 to 85 percent by 2050. In order to achieve such ambitious emission reductions, it is not enough to rely solely on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Additional solutions are required, and CCS is one of the solutions because it has the potential to cut global CO2 emissions considerably by 2050. Read more.

See also

• More questions and answers
• Introduction to CCS