Carbon capture, storage and utilisation: Starting to put the climate change genie back in the bottle

Laura Alcock
Edwards Co. Ltd
[email protected]

Rowena Fletcher-Wood
​[email protected]

ECG Bulletin January 2025

On 9th September, the ECG partnered with the Applied Materials Chemistry Group (AMCG) for a one-day event at Burlington House, London, focused on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). The event hosted 26 in-person delegates and 3 online, exploring how CCS can help achieve net zero and mitigate climate change.
 

Chaired by Laura Alcock (Edwards Ltd and Environmental Chemistry Group), Session 1 on Carbon Capture and Storage Process Chemistry featured keynote speaker Professor Chris Rayner (University of Leeds), who discussed “Post-Combustion Carbon Dioxide Capture – From Laboratory to Power Station and Beyond.” Originally developed in the 1930s for natural gas processing, this technology is now applied to combustion streams.
 

Professor Rayner presents process requirements of CO₂ capture with amines.

​Professor Rayner discussed the challenge of capturing trace CO₂ concentrations, noting that solvent-amines systems must process around 2,500 tonnes of air at current CO₂ levels (418 ppm). Monoethanolamine (MEA) systems have a parasitic load of 20-30% in coal-fired power stations, with costs affected by capture stability and water’s heat capacity. Using a 70% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solution can raise the pKa of CO₂, potentially lowering energy demands for industrial processes. To reach net zero by 2050, a target of 2,000 CCS plants by 2040 has been set.
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Dr Bott discussing reasons for low action on Climate Change.

Dr David Bott from the Society of Chemical Industry, in his talk "Testing a Virgin Fossil Carbon-Free Supply Chain for Chemicals," emphasised reducing reliance on virgin fossil fuels and overcoming industry barriers. He introduced the Flue2Chem Project, which converts CO₂ emissions from sources such as biomass boilers into organic intermediates, e.g. dodecanol and ethylene oxide using thermo-catalytic processes. These intermediates are then used in surfactants for cleaning products and coatings, integrating five key industries. Flue2Chem also addresses social risks and performs life cycle analyses.
 

Introduced by Andrew Dunster (Applied Materials Chemistry Group), Dr Jan Skocek (Carbonation Technologies) presented online, ‘ReConcrete: Launching fully circular cement and concrete’. The low energy mineralisation pathway faces challenges identifying suitable feedstocks and requires harsh conditions to rapidly carbonate salts like olivine. However, recycled Portland cement concrete may be a solution: offering a large as-yet-unused carbon sink. Carbonation of hydrated cement paste from old concrete can effectively store CO₂, and, in addition, the resulting carbonated cement paste reacts with calcium hydroxide (lime) in the presence of water to make new cementitious materials. Cement separated from concrete is mineralised with a raw flue gas, creating a carbonated reconcrete product (RCP) that acts as supplementary material in new the cement manufacturing process. The process is rapid, low energy, reduces the CO₂ footprint of cement, and promotes circularity and recycling.[3] The first concrete recycling plant using this technology has been constructed in Poland.

Dr Skocek remotely presenting newly developed alternative formula cements.

Figure 1. Representation of distance from oil well to carbon capture site [1]

Rowena Fletcher-Wood (Environmental Chemistry Group) chaired Session 2, Carbon Capture and Storage – Methods and Efficiencies, featuring Professor Rachael James (University of Southampton) who presented on "Sequestration of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide by Rocks, Soils, and Seawater." She focused on CO₂ removal from the atmosphere, addressing the challenge of 12 Gt of CO₂. 
Enhanced rock weathering improves natural carbon capture by adding specific rocks to agricultural soils, facilitating the formation of carbonates absorbed by plants or washed into oceans. Models suggest that 0.5 to 2 Gt of CO₂ could be removed annually, but these predictions need validation in field studies, especially since emissions often occur far from absorbing crops. The minerals used could also be applied to shorelines and oceans, with initial trials showing no pH changes. Additional benefits include increased silicon content in plants, enhancing their resistance to herbivores and reducing downy mildew infections.
 

Professor Rachael James discussing pathways for CO₂ sequestration in agricultural soils.

Professor Stuart James remotely introduces different types of porous liquids.

Professor Stuart James (Queen's University Belfast) presented online on "Porous Liquids for Energy-Efficient Carbon Capture and Mechanochemistry for Solvent-Free Chemical Manufacturing." He discussed how the scaled particle theory identifies cavity formation as the main energy penalty. Porous liquids (PLs) are created by combining standard zeolites or MOFs with large solvents that cannot be trapped in their pores, enhancing gas solubility and selectivity.
Challenges include volatility, corrosiveness, and high energy demand. Stability has been achieved with zeolite RHO/CHA combined with Genosorb® PL, enhancing CO₂/CH4 selectivity, improving material economy, and doubling CO₂ capacity. Costs for heating, cooling, and pumping are low; models suggest greater efficiency through vacuum regeneration instead of thermal methods.

Joanne Rout (Applied Materials Chemistry Group) chaired Session 3, Carbon Capture and Storage Alternative Energies, featuring Professor Jon Gluyas (Durham University) who presented on " Carbon   Capture   and   Geostorage:   A   Key Component of the Energy Transition – Opportunities and Risks."
He discussed the correlation between quality of life and energy use, noting that fossil fuels' energy density is only surpassed by nuclear energy.
 

Professor Gluyas highlights number and proportion of carbon capture projects in various stages in 2023.

Figure 2. Representation of typical depth of carbon storage site relative to London landmark buildings [1].

Professor Gluyas identified key ongoing CCS projects, including Sask Power, exploring oil well injections. It may be absorbed into sea water, where it increases in density and eventually sinks. Porous, permeable, geological rock is also an excellent sink, offering a capacity of >78Gt in the UK, greatly exceeding the 360 Mt annual generation. Public (mis)understanding was highlighted: it’s not “just beneath our feet”, but at least 800 m below, with 1.0-2.5 km more common. However, multiple natural mechanisms result in the relocation of CO₂. The first injection is planned for 2027, because of safety checks.

Next, Dr Yagya Regmi (Manchester Metropolitan University) asked, “Is hydrogen the key that unlocks decarbonisation?” He took on ‘hard to decarbonise’ industrial sectors such as ammonia synthesis and posed a green hydrogen solution. Burning 1 kg of hydrogen generates just 10 kg of CO₂, but green hydrogen costs 2-3 times more due to energy requirements. Dr. Regmi set a cost target of $1/kg and analysed electrolyser efficiency by mapping voltage against current density.
​​Challenges include mitigating crossover (leakage between oxygen and hydrogen) and system engineering. Dr Regmi noted hidden costs, such as titanium machining, which is nearly as expensive as platinum, leading to stainless steel preference.

Dr Regmi shares progress and improvement in efficiency of his carbon capture electrolyser.

Professor Stephenson reviewing CCS sites, their capacity and the issues in the USA.

In Session 4, Carbon Capture and Storage Applications and Attitudes, Professor Michael Stephenson (Stephenson Geoscience Consulting Ltd) discussed how diverse global attitudes toward CCS, influenced by energy demand growth, have resulted in varied implementation strategies. In the United States, CCS is mainly applied to ethanol, hydrogen, and ammonia production, where capture costs are lower, and the focus is financial benefits, not climate abatement. Consequently, major contributors like industrial power and electricity generation are not pursuing CCS. In Southeast Asia, environmental management is framed around economic growth, balancing decarbonisation with gas reserves exploitation. 1990-2019, rising energy demands were met via fossil fuel combustion and CO₂ sequestration.

Europe showcases innovation, subsidisation, and diverse waste management, with varying levels of development across “hubs and clusters” featuring advanced legal and regulatory frameworks. In contrast, West Africa is in the early stages of CCS, with scepticism about its efficacy, as many believe the historical "culprits" of climate change originated elsewhere. Notably, some of the most populous nations contribute the least pollution per capita and expect compensation for addressing climate issues .
 

Figure 3. Area graph representing average pollution per person from 1800 – 2004 against population of major polluting nations [2].

Martin Jones from Captimise presented on "The Need for Screening Studies in Carbon Capture Projects." He introduced Captimise and discussed CCS screening, emphasising the benefits and  importance of starting  these studies early in a project. Captimise has collaborated with 30 CO₂ emitters to assess the feasibility of carbon capture projects, exploring multiple technologies with EU funding and royal endorsements.

The final talk, given by Georgina Katzaros (Carbon Capture and Storage Association), spoke on "Building Momentum of CCUS in the UK: Making Carbon Capture Projects Happen." She outlined deployment projections, supply chain impacts, and market factors driving CCS adoption. Since 2021, approximately £21 billion has been invested in UK CCUS projects and £960 million in clean energy, yet funding is limited. While UK industry aims for 50% local content, the US has implemented a $85/tonne CO₂ storage subsidy. However, insufficient government support threatens the UK’s CCS efforts and risks driving critical industries abroad, highlighting the need for a solid industrial action plan and greater regulatory certainty.
 

Martin Jones presenting on the need for feasibility studies in CCSU projects.

Georgina Katzaros presents the existing Carbon Capture and Storage Association UK projects.

​During the day, recurring issues included low CO₂ concentrations, sites in the CCUS production chain typically many kilometers apart, and the cost of materials and energy for these technologies.

References
1. S.E. Daniels, L. Hardiman, D. Hartgill, V. Hunn, R. Jones, N. Robertson, Deep geological storage of CO₂ on the UK continental shelf, National Archives, 2023. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/63dd00c8e90e075da7464b4b/ukcs-co2-containment-certainty-report.pdf.
2. D. J. C. MacKay, Sustainable Energy — without the hot air, Bloomsbury Publishing, New York, 2008.
3. M. Zajac et al. CO₂ mineralization methods in cement and concrete industry. Energies 15 (10) 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15103597
 

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