The carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the process by which carbon dioxide (CO2) comes from industry they separate before being ejected into space and then they are kept in secret or in another safe place. This is achieved through complex machines that have been used in industries in different parts of the world for several years, such as oil or cement, for example.
Carbon Capture System Software / iStock
They are not special or small parts, but ambitious and expensive technologies that are distributed globally and with a very large budget. Recently, plants are being built so that, instead of storing carbon before releasing it, what they do is take it directly from the atmosphere. And yet, Are they effective practices?
Very expensive
Scientific research confirms that these CAC practices They are too expensive to be commercially viable and negate their being a viable option.. The study, carried out by the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (Ieefa), reveals the main technical, commercial and legal challenges that European countries have to overcome in order to implement these measures to reduce the presence of CO2 in the atmosphere.
The report addresses the technical immaturity of CAC systems and the problems experienced by existing projects.
The report notes that, due to the lack of technical expertise in CAC systems and problems faced by existing projectsthis is a method that cannot be done directly. In addition, its economic value, already prohibitive at present, may increase in the short term.
European citizens have to pay 140 billion
Ieefa estimates that the total cost of CCS projects planned in Europe is around €520 billion. And, although financial incentives to reduce emissions fees “could pay about three-thirds of the cost of these projects, the rest must be decided by governments.” This means that Up to 140 billion euros from taxpayers may be needed”says Andrew Reid, author of the report and economist at Ieefa.
Its costs are high and its effectiveness is questionable, according to the study / Organizations
“Believe in CCS as a solution to climate change it will force European governments to set up a high-interest payment system supporting a technology that has already failed,” says Reid. “As shown by the low number of operational projects, CCS will not work as expected and will take longer to achieve than expected,” he adds.
Europe currently has less than 200 carbon capture and storage projects. 90% of these installations come from sectors where the technology is in the demonstration phase.
Only three of the 90 projects are active in the EU
And, despite this, the deadlines for the site to be up and running are very good. Others 90 of them should be working in 2030 across the EU and the UK to meet the targets set. And yet, right now There are only three CCS projects in operation in the EU and none in the UK.
“If the unachievable targets are increased, there is a risk that it will be too late to reduce emissions by other means when it is determined that the effectiveness of CCS on decarbonization will fail,” says Reid.
For this reason, the author of the study believes that policymakers should start working to “use solutions to the problems.”
Experts emphasize that the only effective way is to stop releasing CO2 into the atmosphere
In fact, previous studies on the subject have also shown this The process of capturing CO2 is very expensive and, in addition, CO2 is produced inside. This only slows the release of CO2, which cannot be stored indefinitely.
According to experts, The only effective way to remove CO2 from the atmosphere is to reduce emissions as soon as possible. greenhouse effect. No other system can replace this initiative, they say.
reference report, in this link.
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Contact the Environment department: crisisclimatica@prensaiberica.es
