Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) has Banner Year

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Happy 100

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies had a good year. In 2021, more than 100 new CCUS facilities have been announced, and the project pipeline for CO2 capture capacity is on track to quadruple.

The growth is attributed to a few different factors:

  • Recognition that CCUS is necessary to meet net zero goals

  • Growing interest in producing low-carbon hydrogen

  • Policy and investment advantages

Investment in CCUS technology and scaling is expected to bring per-ton costs down and play a major role in reversing climate change. It used to be seen as a last resort, but is now being considered a key piece of the energy transition puzzle.

Iceland Dives in With Orca

One such project is Orca, a direct air capture (DAC) facility in Hellisheidi, Iceland, built by Climeworks. CO2 is being filtered directly from the air and stored permanently under the gorgeous landscape of Iceland.

The plant has only been operational since September, and developers say the basalt makeup of Iceland alone provides capacity to store millions of tons of CO2. 

CCUS requires a global effort, with startups, governments, and corporations backing the technology. Currently, removing a ton of CO2 at Orca costs between $600 and $800, but Climeworks is aiming to get that cost down to between $100 and $200.

Maybe we can pull the solution to climate change out of thin air.