Carbon Capture Faces Criticism Despite Emission Reduction Potential

Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is a process that involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial facilities, compressing the gas, and injecting it deep underground for long-term storage. This method is seen as a crucial tool in reducing pollution during the transition to renewable energy. However, it faces criticism from both conservatives and environmentalists.

Conservatives argue that CCS is unnecessarily expensive and may not be the most effective way to curb pollution. Environmentalists, on the other hand, contend that the technology has consistently failed to capture as much pollution as promised and is often used as a means for fossil fuel producers to continue their operations. They also point out potential issues with keeping the captured carbon dioxide underground, citing incidents such as a leak discovered at an Illinois carbon capture and storage site.

The most commonly used technology allows facilities to capture and store around 60% of their carbon dioxide emissions. Some companies have forecast higher capture rates, but in practice, these rates have not been achieved. The difficulty lies in capturing carbon dioxide from every emission point and ensuring it remains stored underground. Additionally, the carbon capture process itself emits significant amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

Despite these criticisms, proponents of CCS argue that it is an important tool for reducing emissions, particularly in heavy industries. They view it as a complementary technology to renewables, rather than a substitute. Experts also note that many proposed projects, such as ammonia and hydrogen plants on the U.S. Gulf Coast, may not be built without tax credits for carbon capture. These credits have already driven significant investment and are seen as crucial for U.S. global competitiveness.

The future of these tax credits remains uncertain, as they are currently in the Senate Finance Committee’s draft reconciliation bill. However, inflation has already reduced their value, which could limit the number of projects that move forward. The Carbon Capture Coalition, which advocates for the technology, has expressed concern about this issue.