WHAT: CCS, or Collaboration on Capture and Storage of Carbon Dioxide, is a process that involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial processes or power plants, transporting it to a storage site, and securely storing it underground to prevent it from entering the atmosphere and contributing to climate change.
WHY: It’s important because it helps mitigate climate change by reducing the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere. CO2 is a major greenhouse gas, and its accumulation in the atmosphere contributes to global warming and climate change. By capturing and storing CO2, CCS helps to reduce emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
HOW: The process works by first capturing CO2 emissions from sources such as power plants or industrial facilities. This can be done using various technologies, including post-combustion capture, pre-combustion capture, and oxy-fuel combustion. Once captured, the CO2 is compressed and transported via pipelines or other means to a suitable storage site, typically underground geological formations such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs, saline aquifers, or coal seams. Finally, the CO2 is injected into the storage site and securely stored, usually thousands of feet underground, where it can be monitored to ensure it remains contained. Over time, the stored CO2 mineralizes or dissolves into the surrounding geological formations, permanently removing it from the atmosphere.
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