CAPTURING C
TECHNOLOGY
THE ENVIRONMENTALLY -FRIENDLY VACUUM
The research is clear : if we want to avoid the disastrous effects of climate change , we must reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere .
Even with the mass production of solarpanels and wind turbines , reaching net-zero is going to require capturing large amounts of emissions from activities that are hard to decarbonise , such as making cement .
Enter : carbon capture . CCUS ( carbon capture , utilisation and storage ) involves the capture of carbon dioxide ( CO2 ) emissions from industrial processes , such as the creation of steel , or from the burning of fossil fuels in power generation , and burying it deep underground . In some instances , the captured CO2 can be repurposed to create products such as synthetic fuels and cement – an environmental recycling of sorts .
Carbon capture , however , does not come without its unique set of challenges – the immense cost of such technologies being one .
The role of carbon capture could be instrumental in meeting net-zero goals – we take a look at why technology and regulation are key
WRITTEN BY : MARIAM AHMAD
108 February 2023