Is carbon capture a viable climate solution?
Quick Answer
Carbon capture works technically but faces scale and cost challenges. Current global capacity captures about 45 million tonnes CO2 annually—less than 0.1% of global emissions. Costs range from $50-150/tonne for point-source capture. CCUS may be essential for hard-to-decarbonize sectors but cannot substitute for emissions reduction. Critics warn it enables continued fossil fuel use.
Key Numbers
Full Analysis
In-depth exploration with citations and evidence
How Carbon Capture Works#
Point-Source Capture
Capturing CO2 from large emitters:
- Power plants
- Industrial facilities (cement, steel, chemicals)
- Refineries and gas processing
Direct Air Capture (DAC)
Removing CO2 directly from atmosphere:
- Much more energy-intensive
- Currently very expensive ($400-600/tonne)
- Theoretically unlimited potential
Storage Options
- Deep geological formations
- Depleted oil/gas reservoirs
- Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) use
The Scale Challenge#
Current reality vs. climate needs:
| Metric | Current | 2050 Need (IEA NZE) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 45 Mt/year | 5,600 Mt/year |
| Projects | ~40 | Thousands |
| Investment | ~$5B/year | $100B+/year |
Scaling 100x+ in 25 years is an enormous challenge.
Where CCUS Makes Sense#
Strong Case
- Cement production (process emissions unavoidable)
- Steel production (hard to electrify)
- Blue hydrogen production
- Industrial clusters
Weaker Case
- Power generation (renewables often cheaper)
- Enhanced oil recovery (extends fossil use)
- As excuse to delay other action
Cost Reality#
Point-source capture: $50-150/tonne CO2 Direct air capture: $400-600/tonne CO2 (current)
For comparison, a carbon price of $50/tonne would make many projects viable.
Steelmanned Counterarguments
We present the strongest version of opposing viewpoints—not strawmen.
1CCUS is just an excuse to keep burning fossil fuels.
Some projects clearly extend fossil fuel production. However, CCUS may be genuinely necessary for cement, steel, and chemical industries where process emissions are unavoidable. The key is distinguishing enabling further oil use from addressing hard-to-abate sectors.