Legal Definitions - carbon capture

Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) refers to a suite of technologies designed to prevent carbon dioxide (CO2) from entering the atmosphere or to remove it once it's already there. Once captured, this CO2 is either permanently stored deep underground or repurposed for various industrial uses.

The primary goal of CCUS is to mitigate climate change by reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These technologies typically operate in two main ways: capturing CO2 directly from large industrial sources before it's emitted, or extracting it directly from the ambient air.

• Example 1: A large-scale steel manufacturing plant implements a system that filters the exhaust gases from its blast furnaces. This system chemically separates the carbon dioxide from other gases, preventing it from being released into the atmosphere. The captured CO2 is then compressed and injected into deep geological formations for long-term storage.

  Explanation 1: This scenario demonstrates carbon capture by preventing emissions at their source (the steel plant's exhaust). The subsequent storage of the CO2 underground illustrates the "storage" component of CCUS, ensuring the carbon is removed from the active carbon cycle.

• Example 2: An innovative startup builds a facility in a remote, windy region that uses large fans and specialized chemical absorbents to pull carbon dioxide directly out of the surrounding air. This process, known as Direct Air Capture (DAC), aims to reduce existing CO2 levels in the atmosphere. The collected CO2 is then sold to a beverage company for use in carbonating drinks.

  Explanation 2: This example illustrates direct air capture, a method of removing CO2 already present in the atmosphere. The subsequent sale of the captured CO2 for beverage carbonation highlights the "utilisation" aspect of CCUS, where the captured carbon is put to a beneficial use rather than just stored.

• Example 3: A cement factory, a significant emitter of CO2, installs advanced technology to capture a substantial portion of the carbon dioxide produced during its clinker production process. Instead of storing it, the factory partners with a research firm that uses this captured CO2 to develop new, stronger building materials, effectively embedding the carbon into durable products.

  Explanation 3: Here, carbon capture occurs at an industrial source (the cement factory). The unique aspect of this example is the "utilisation" of the captured CO2, where it is transformed and incorporated into new building materials, demonstrating a creative and potentially permanent way to reuse carbon rather than simply storing it.