CO2 is an essential component of the biosphere, and huge amounts of it are emitted to the atmosphere and naturally recycled. That natural process is currently out of equilibrium, and concentrations of CO2 are increasing to historically high absolute levels. Much of the observed effect is a consequence of burning carbon-based fuel for electricity and transportation. The U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have concluded that accelerated Global Warming and Climate Change are occurring as a result.

Controlling CO2 emissions from large-point sources like power plants, refineries, cement plants and steel mills will require solutions that can deal with enormous volumes of gas. CO2 capture and storage refers to the integrated process of separation and capture of CO2 from industrial scale emitters, followed by pipeline transport to carefully selected locations where it will be injected directly into the pores of rocks deep underground. It will remain stored for geologic time.

CO2 capture and storage has the potential to remove 5 percent of current annual global CO2 emissions or about 1 billion metric tonnes per year of CO2 by 2050. It can indirectly increase energy security by enabling the continued use of coal and heavy oils as fuel, minimizing their negative impact on the atmosphere. It will also encourage the use of biomass in gasification, and ultimately, diversify energy sources.

However, the process is currently expensive. Significant efforts need to be made to reduce the costs through technology innovation. Incentives and cooperation are needed, and costs must be shared across market segments. Site selection must be done carefully to enjoy maximum safety performance. The United States in particular has many issues surrounding landowners’ rights and the ultimate assumption of responsibility for monitoring storage sites by government for 1,000 years or more.