While reducing emissions is the priority, reaching climate goals also requires removing existing $CO_2$ from the air. Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies are moving from experimental prototypes to industrial-scale operations. Modern innovations focus on Direct Air Capture (DAC), which uses massive fans and chemical sorbents to pull carbon directly from the sky.
The future of CCUS hinges on:
- Mineralization: Converting captured $CO_2$ into solid rock (like basalt) for permanent underground storage.
- Carbon-to-Value: Using captured carbon as a feedstock for creating sustainable aviation fuel or “green” concrete.
- Energy Efficiency: Integrating waste heat from industrial plants to power the high-energy capture process.