Advancing Sustainability through Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Technologies: The Hydrogel Case Study

The near-linear relationship between anthropogenic CO2 emission and global warming is a major cause of concern among scientists. Achieving a low carbon future requires a new approach to providing energy solutions. This paper reviews the advancements in CCUS technology and actions of the oil and gas industry actively participating in Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS). CCUS has been identified to play a key role in achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. Oil and gas industry has been using CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) for many years which removes some CO2 permanently from the atmosphere. Currently there are more than 150 CO2 EOR projects in place worldwide. Additionally, the major oil and gas companies are stepping up to further remove CO2 from the environment through Direct Air Capture (DAC), Carbonate Fuel Cells etc. This paper discusses a few of the CCUS projects undertaken by some major oil and gas companies. Many companies are investing in startups, national research institutes and other ventures with proven viable technologies for carbon capture such as DAC and fuel cell technology. It is too early to say which of these technologies will emerge as the most superior one. Therefore, investing in different technologies and continuing with the established practices is the more fitting approach. The recent changes in 45Q tax credit in the USA is going to entice even more investors to approach CCUS as a commercially attractive venture. There is currently a lot of pressure from government and public to minimize CO2 emission in all industries and this will only increase with time. Oil and Gas industry is investing heavily on CCUS projects and are therefore best equipped to transition to carbon management companies. The end goal is to make the industry profitable while also safeguarding the environment.

This review provides a comprehensive examination of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies, focusing on their advancements, challenges, and future prospects. It begins with an overview of carbon capture methods, including pre-combustion, post-combustion, and oxy-fuel combustion techniques, highlighting recent technological improvements and associated challenges. The review then explores various carbon utilization strategies, such as chemical conversion, biological processes, and mineralization, discussing emerging technologies, potential applications, and the economic and environmental benefits of utilizing captured CO 2 . The discussion on carbon storage covers geological options like saline aquifers and depleted oil and gas fields, as well as recent advancements in monitoring and safety measures. The review assesses long-term stability and the risks linked to CO2 storage. In addressing the integration and optimization of CCUS systems, it evaluates the synergies between capture, utilization, and storage, includes techno-economic analyses of integrated systems, and presents case studies of successful CCUS projects. Economic feasibility and scalability are scrutinized through cost analysis, barriers to large-scale implementation, and the role of policy and regulatory frameworks. The review also identifies key research gaps, explores innovation potential, and provides strategic recommendations for advancing CCUS adoption. In conclusion, the findings underscore the essential role of CCUS in mitigating climate change, while highlighting the need for continued innovation, policy support, and cost reductions to enable its widespread deployment and effectiveness.

Transportation of CO2 is essential for multiple applications in Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), e.g., for utilisation in methanol production, enhanced oil recovery, or permanent storage. Currently, the CCUS industry is still in its fancy, and the transportation regulation is still defined from project to project, where the existing quality specifications are tailored to the specific storage or utilisation site. It is estimated that transportation accounts for ∼25% of the total costs of a CCUS project, and commercialisation cannot be achieved with an infrastructure of high-grade steel together with high purity CO2. The current transportation infrastructure is based on point-to-point transport, where it is believed that it will be challenging to upscale CCUS without a common quality standard. This leaves a knowledge gap in the design, operation, and investment of CO2 transportation. This study includes an evaluation of the challenges that halt the progression in CO2 transportation based on a survey of the literature. Analysing the benefit of establishing an international quality standard for CO2 transportation for CCUS to become a global industry. A detailed description of the initiative policies within CCUS along with the challenges associated with designing the CO2 transportation infrastructure, which arises when chemical reactions form corrosive or scaling compounds. As a result, this study proposes a future action plan to make CO2 transport more feasible by forming a common CO2 quality specification and a material selection based on CO2 quality.

Strategic Planning of Regions and Territories in Europe for Low Carbon Energy and Industry Through Ccus: The Strategy Ccus Project

Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) is essential for achieving sustainable development and a strong driving force for improving enterprise total factor productivity (TFP). This paper empirically examines the relationship between CCUS and TFP of enterprises based on the collection and organization of CCUS texts in the annual reports of Chinese listed companies from 2002 to 2022. It is found that CCUS has a significant positive impact on corporate TFP. The conclusion still holds after considering issues such as endogenous problems. Mechanism analysis finds that CCUS improves the external environment of enterprises and enhances the ability to obtain bank loans while at the same time improving enterprises’ innovation ability, which in turn helps promote the TFP of enterprises. Heterogeneity analysis finds that the positive impact of CCUS on enterprise TFP is more prominent in large-scale enterprises, state-owned enterprises, and the eight key emitting industries than in small-scale enterprises, non-state-owned enterprises, and other industries. This investigation innovatively employs a text analysis methodology to measure CCUS, reveals the potential determinants influencing CCUS technology on the TFP, and furnishes a scientific foundation for policy refinement.

Safety risk assessment of the large-scale carbon capture, utilization, and storage demonstration project in Dongying, China

Background Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) technologies are emerging into the public arena as increasingly-discussed measures of climate change mitigation, and research into the complexities of public perception of these technologies is intensifying. Narratives, or storytelling, have emerged as a potential key shaper of public opinion of novel technologies, including CCUS. Methods In this paper, we aim to contribute to this research by identifying and analysing media and institutional narratives around CCUS in three EU countries. We use the Narrative Policy Framework to analyse publications over a two-year time period with respect to key components of storytelling, such as plots and characters. Results We find that overall, CCUS is still a relatively niche topic mostly discussed in an informative and neutral way, but that significant differences emerge between countries and across time in how emotionally charged “stories” around CCUS are being created. Conclusions Our results offer insights into the mechanics of how CCUS transforms from an abstract, unknown set of technologies to being part of stories designed to appeal to the public, with important consequences for public attitudes and perceptions.

Modelling plant-level abatement costs and effects of incentive policies for coal-fired power generation retrofitted with CCUS

Morphic Technology uses enzymes to capture and convert CO 2

To support the European Green Deal and accelerate climate mitigation, the CCUS ZEN project conducted a high-level technical screening of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) value chains in the Baltic and Mediterranean regions. These regions were chosen, since they have lower maturity levels for CCUS compared with the current development in the North Sea region. The study mapped industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) emission sources, potential storage sites, transport infrastructure, and utilization options. Emission clusters and hubs were identified based on volume, location, and industry type, while for each mapped storage site, information was gathered about the type of reservoir (deep saline aquifer or depleted hydrocarbon field), the onshore or offshore location, the capacity of the reservoir and the Storage Readiness Level, indicating the maturity of the capacity evaluation. Transport options included pipelines, shipping, and multimodal solutions were presented. This study defined unique high-level technical CCUS value chain screening workflow for mapping of emitters, infrastructures to storage screening. An open geographical information system was used for mapping the emitters and storage sites from previous reports, and to illustrate emission clusters and possible transport routes, both existing and future infrastructures. The screening revealed significant CO2 emission sources and storage capacities across the regions, with notable clusters in Poland, Germany, Italy, and Turkey. The Baltic region showed three times the storage capacity of the Mediterranean region. Eight promising CCUS value chains were defined, integrating source-sink matching and infrastructure feasibility. A detailed case study of Southern Italy and Greece was presented, to demonstrate the potential for regional CCUS deployment, highlighting challenges such as data availability, storage capacity uncertainty, transport possibilities and stakeholder coordination. This study will provide a foundation for further development and stakeholder engagement in CCUS planning across Europe.

Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) processes involve multiple interdependent stages, from capturing CO2 emissions to transporting, utilizing, and permanently storing them. These operations are complex, dynamic, and sensitive to fluctuations, requiring robust monitoring systems to ensure efficiency, safety, and regulatory compliance. However, current monitoring frameworks typically rely on static thresholds and manually configured rules, which are inadequate for managing the variable conditions in CCUS environments. These legacy systems often generate excessive false alarms, fail to detect anomalies in real time, and delay response actions. Moreover, identifying the root causes of process deviations remains time-consuming and inconsistent, hindering operational effectiveness and regulatory adherence. There is a critical need for an intelligent, adaptive system that can monitor CCUS processes holistically, detect anomalies dynamically, and recommend corrective actions without relying on static configurations. We propose an AI-driven alerting and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) system tailored for CCUS operations. This solution uses a combination of unsupervised and reinforcement learning techniques to continuously analyze data across all stages of the CCUS value chain. Unsupervised models identify deviations from expected behavior without requiring labelled datasets, while reinforcement learning enables the system to improve detection accuracy over time through interaction with users and system feedback. A domain-specific knowledge graph captures relationships between historical incidents, enabling automated RCA and the suggestion of resolution strategies. The system integrates seamlessly with industrial IoT devices, SCADA systems, and cloud-based data platforms, creating a unified, real-time monitoring environment. The AI-driven system automates anomaly detection and RCA, removing the need for static, rule-based alerting. It categorizes alerts by severity and contextualizes them using historical data, operational standards, and regulatory criteria. When an alert is triggered, the system offers actionable insights and suggests resolution pathways, improving both speed and quality of decision-making. A feedback loop further enhances system accuracy and adaptability. Ultimately, this solution improves operational efficiency, reduces downtime, ensures environmental compliance, and minimizes the risk of human error. It empowers engineers and operators with a visual interface that delivers alerts, analytics, and recommendations in real time. The novelty of this approach lies in its self-learning capabilities and its integration of machine learning with domain-specific knowledge. Unlike traditional systems, it continuously adapts to changing operational patterns, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration. The use of a knowledge graph for RCA and the integration of reinforcement learning distinguish this solution as a scalable, intelligent framework for sustainable CCUS operations.

Three decades of topic evolution, hot spot mining and prospect in CCUS Studies based on CitNetExplorer

Carbon dioxide capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology is an emerging technology with large-scale emission reduction potential and an essential component of the global response to climate change to achieve net-zero goals. As the two most important countries in global climate governance, it is necessary to review and examine the current status and trends of research in the field of CCUS in China and the USA. This paper uses bibliometric tools to review and analyze peer-reviewed articles in the Web of Science from both countries during 2000-2022. The results show a significant increase in research interest among scholars from both countries. The number of publications in the CCUS field in China and the USA was 1196 and 1302, respectively, showing an increasing trend. China and the USA have become the most influential countries in CCUS. And the USA has a more significant academic influence on a global scale. Furthermore, the research hotspots in the field of CCUS are diverse and differentiated.That is, China and the USA pay attention to different research hotspots or have different focuses in different periods. This paper also finds that new capture materials and technology development, geological storage monitoring and early warning, CO2 utilization and new energy development, sustainable business models, incentive policies and measures, and public awareness are critical directions for future research in the field of CCUS, to provide a comprehensive review and comparison of CCUS technology development in China and the USA. It helps to gain insight into the research differences and linkages between the two countries in the field of CCUS and identify the research gaps between them. And place some consensus that policymakers can use.

Economic viability of full-chain CCUS-EOR in Indonesia

Emission Reductions Visual Presentation R04 Reliable local renewable power generation enables more environmentally and economically viable operations, to meet with the challenge of renewable energy intermittency and energy security. The Renewables for Subsea Power (RSP) project support targets towards Net Zero Targets by providing a full solution to generate low carbon, cost-effective, power and communications to remote locations in the offshore energy industry. The development of the RSP system is a collaborative project led by three UK-based companies in partnership with wider industry engagement from operators and the Aberdeen-based Net Zero Technology Centre. Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) is set to play a key role in the energy transition. CCUS developments will incorporate all-electric subsea systems that can benefit from the RSP solution. This first of a kind integrated solution will contribute significantly to the generation of clean energy in the petroleum industry using a Wave Energy Converter and seabed battery energy storage for production control applications. The various applications that would benefit from the cost and CO2 savings from deploying the system, compared to traditional methods, include umbilical remediation, brownfield expansion, long offsets, CCUS, and Autonomous Underwater Vehicle residency. For CCUS projects key advantages are a specific design catered towards simplified controls architecture (e.g. electric controls), and the ability to offer an alternative to direct current fibre-optic from shore. A full system demonstrator deployment commenced in Feb-23 and has demonstrated system capability to power subsea equipment and an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). Trials continue through 2024. To access the Visual Presentation click the link on the right. To read the full paper click here