In order to meet the net zero goals, among other measures (such as the phase out of petrol/diesel vehicles) carbon negative technologies are needed. One such technology is carbon capture; whereby emitted carbon is captured directly from the source or from the air.
This technology goes by many acronyms depending on how the carbon dioxide is captured and used afterwards, such as the ones seen below:
- CCS- Carbon Capture and Storage
- CCUS- Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage
- DACC- Direct Air Carbon Capture
- BECCS- Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage
The government addressed the need for a dramatic reduction of CO2 emissions in order to meet the net zero targets put in place, and recognise that CCUS will play a key role. Compounded by the IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) and CCC (Climate Change Committee) outlining the necessity for carbon negative technologies in meeting net zero targets, this will also help alleviate pressure on hard to decarbonise sectors, such as aviation, that need more time to develop and innovate.
As outlined in the Clean Growth Strategy (2017), the government wants the UK to demonstrate leadership towards CCUS and to deploy this at scale. Many CCUS plans currently involve a cluster of industries within an industrial ‘hub’, thereby a range of facilities are sharing the infrastructure needed for transporting and storing their collective CO2 emissions.
