What are the future prospects for CCUS?
Towards 2030, researchers are working with industry and authorities to develop and test already known carbon capture and storage technologies, so that they can scaled up and contribute with the necessary reduction as soon as possible.
At the same time, research is being conducted into how the technologies can become as sustainable and effective as possible. For example, some of the latest advanced capture technologies have disadvantages in terms of high temperature and pressure, as well as use of solvents and other chemicals. In the long term, more environmentally-friendly solutions involving enzyme technology and microbial biotechnology must be developed in this field.
In the longer term, CCUS systems in Denmark must be an integral part of a green energy system, as carbon capture is quite energy intensive. The carbon capture of the future will run on green power as part of the electrification of society.
By 2050, the research is expected to have come so far that CO2 will become a raw material for production of sustainable fuels. Therefore, infrastructure and secure transport of captured CO2 must be planned, but also in integration with hydrogen storage and Power-to-X production facilities.
In the even longer term, there will also be a need to develop technologies for direct air carbon capture, as the current technologies are all targeted at carbon sources, such as energy-producing plants, industry, etc.
In a future fossil-free society, we are likely to see a carbon shortage because it is utilized for fuels and other purposes. At that time, captured ‘green’ CO2 will be the only way to reduce atmospheric levels of CO2 and the only source of CO2 as a raw material.