Carbon management

The challenge

Carbon management encompasses capture of carbon dioxide (CO₂₎ from fossil fuel combustion or from the atmosphere, use of the CO₂ for processes or products, and long-term CO₂ storage (sequestration). These practices are referred to as carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). A critical aspect of carbon management is assessing the technical and economic feasibility and net greenhouse gas emission reductions associated with different CCUS approaches.

CCUS includes a vast array of potential technologies and processes that may have a role in reducing CO₂ emissions or repurposing CO₂. Successful management of carbon will ultimately require true decarbonization of many sectors of the economy. For example, decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries like steel, cement, and chemical manufacturing would reduce direct CO₂ emissions. In the meantime, widespread and efficient capture of CO₂ produced by fossil fuel combustion, which remains the key power source for these sectors, can reduce direct CO₂ emissions.

Once emitted to the atmosphere, CO₂ is more difficult to capture. Carbon dioxide removal—whether through direct air capture, marine methods, or geologic enhancement—can be expensive, technically-difficult, and energy-intensive.

After CO₂ is captured, it can either be utilized or stored. Currently, most captured CO₂ is injected into the subsurface to enhance oil recovery. A fraction of captured CO₂ is valorized into products such as carbon fiber, carbon black, carbon nanotubes, or graphite. More industries are exploring uses for valorized CO₂ although the economics remain challenging.

Storage of captured CO₂ typically involves sequestering it in either supercritical or dissolved form in rock formations or brine deposits or injecting it into rock formations where the CO₂ reacts to form new minerals. CO₂ is stored at both terrestrial and marine sites, with one subsea CO₂ sequestration site offshore Norway now in operation for three decades.

For CCUS to become financially viable alongside continued use of fossil fuels will require robust auditing, strong policies, and a functioning carbon market. CO₂ emissions quotas, carbon taxes, carbon border adjustment mechanisms, verifiable assessments of embodied carbon for products, and incentives to use valorized CO₂ may all have a role in advancing carbon management.

Our impact

MITEI examines the technical and economic feasibility of CCUS approaches, as well as the policies, economics, and market conditions associated with carbon management. 

Key topics include:

• Carbon capture, removal, and storage technologies and CO₂ valorization
• Decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors
• Industrial carbon hubs and integrated CCUS systems
• Monitoring, reporting and verification, as well as decision support (e.g., digital dashboards)
• Carbon markets and carbon border adjustment mechanisms

MITEI also manages some research related to methane, a powerful, short-lived greenhouse gas, and to hydrogen escape, which increases the lifetime of methane in the atmosphere.