What is Carbon Sequestration?

By Ibtisam AbbasiReviewed by Laura ThomsonUpdated on Nov 8 2024

Carbon sequestration is a vital technology that helps reduce harmful carbon emissions by capturing and efficiently storing CO₂ from the atmosphere.¹ This article takes a closer look at carbon sequestration, including its history, types, applications, and success stories.

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A Brief History of Carbon Sequestration

The thought process behind carbon sequestration emerged in the early 1920s, with CO₂ scrubbers to efficiently remove impurities from methane. The first plant aimed at capturing carbon was conceptualized in 1938; however, the sequestration process still had no practical demonstration.²

In the 1970s, carbon sequestration and storage were presented in the commercialized form of enhanced oil recovery. This involved injecting and trapping the recovered carbon from oil production into oil and gas reservoirs.³

However, Marchetti cemented the first modern concept of carbon sequestration. It was the first time it was properly used to reduce human-based CO₂ production, titled the Sleipner Carbon Sequestration and Storage Project.

The IEA Greenhouse Gas (IEAGHG) Research and Development Programme's Weyburn–Midale CO₂ Monitoring and Storage Project (commonly known as the Weyburn Project), which started in 2000, is also a key milestone and major project demonstrating large-scale CO₂ sequestration, utilization, and storage.⁴

Types of Carbon Sequestration

Three main carbon sequestration types are utilized frequently worldwide, including biological, geological, and technological carbon sequestration.⁵

Biological carbon sequestration

Biological carbon sequestration involves capturing and storing CO₂ in vegetation such as forests, plants, soils, and oceans.

Plants and microalgae capture and utilize CO₂ via photosynthesis and chlorophyll. Biological beings, such as microbes, actively convert CO₂ via photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic methods.

Clostridium bacteria types are particularly effective in bio-fixation of CO₂. In this way, geological carbon sequestration involving microbial and micro-algal fixation efficiently converts CO₂ into usable energy.⁶

Geological carbon sequestration

In geological sequestration, CO₂ is stored in underground geological formations and rocks. Carbon, produced by industrial and chemical reactions, especially in power plants, is stored in porous geological rocks for long-term storage.⁷

Several methods are used for utilizing geological carbon sequestration. The stratigraphic trapping method involves the sequestration of CO₂ in the caprock of the reservoirs. The geological characteristics of the sedimentary basins affect the efficiency of CO₂ sequestration.

Residual and capillary trapping is another famous technique. In this technique, CO₂ is trapped at the microscale with reservoirs tens of meters deep into the ground. Another method, solubility trapping, involves the downward movement of CO2 with the brine in geological sites. In this method, the temperature and density of the brine affect the sequestration of CO₂.^8.

A Brief Look at Technological Carbon Sequestration

This artificially engineered carbon sequestration technological method involves exploring innovative processes and materials for trapping, storing, and utilizing carbon as a resource.

Much research is required to promote technology-based carbon sequestration, with the most notable development being biochar-based carbon capture aggregates (CCAs). Recently, researchers have focused on sustainable and eco-friendly CCA manufacturing by incorporating biochar with domestic wastes.

Different biochar rates were used, with a 5% incorporation rate showing the maximum carbon uptake to be around 26.67 kg/ton.⁹ This indicates that modern technologies and specially developed materials can be useful in capturing carbon and combating global warming.

Applications of Carbon Sequestration

Researchers and experts highly value carbon sequestration technology, estimating that it could reduce carbon emissions by approximately 7 gigatons by 2030, and its market is forecasted to reach a valuation of around 800 billion US dollars.¹⁰

Carbon sequestration has recently been used to capture CO₂ and convert it into fuels used for energy generation. This is a game-changer for achieving net-zero emissions for aviation and heavy trucking industries.¹¹

Carbon Sequestration Projects

In Denmark, the energy agency has awarded contracts to two heat and power plants that can remove 4 million tons of CO₂ annually. Furthermore, three more projects aimed at producing bioenergy from carbon sequestration were given funding of over 350 million Euros.

Carbon sequestration applications in real-life projects are increasing daily. In Norway, three major energy companies, Total Energies, Equinor, and Shell, are part of the first major carbon sequestration project, the Northern Lights.

In the project's first phase, 1.5 million tons of CO₂ will be stored yearly. The project has been approved by the Norwegian government, where the CO₂ will be captured and stored in geological layers at 2600 meters below the North Sea.¹²

The Future of Carbon Sequestration

Carbon sequestration is an essential technology for direct air capture and reutilization of carbon as fuel. Various startups focusing on carbon sequestration are expected to take off. Governments worldwide, particularly in Europe and Asia-Pacific, are investing extensively in carbon capture and storage technologies.

Ensure cost-effective and eco-friendly carbon capture and storage solutions are needed, as well as research preventive measures against carbon leakage to make carbon sequestration technologies viable for all nations.

Continue Reading: What Happens to Carbon Stored Underground?

References and Further Reading

1. United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S) (2023). What is carbon sequestration? [Online]. Available at: https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-carbon-sequestration. [Accessed on November 04, 2024].
2. Marsh, J. (2022). History and Pitfalls of Carbon Sequestration. [Online]. Available at: https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/jane-marsh/history-and-pitfalls-of-carbon-sequestration-20220629 [Accessed on November 04, 2024].
3. Robertson, B. (2022). Carbon capture has a long history, Of failure. Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis [Online]. Available at: https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2024-02/088.%20Bruce%20Robertson%2C%20IEEFA%2C%20Carbon%20capture%20has%20a%20long%20history.%20Of%20failure..pdf [Accessed on November 04, 2024].
4. Ma, J. et. al. (2022). Carbon capture and storage: history and the road ahead. Engineering, 14, 33-43. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2021.11.024
5. UC Davis (2023). What is Carbon Sequestration? [Online]. Available at: https://climatechange.ucdavis.edu/climate/definitions/carbon-sequestration [Accessed on November 05, 2024].
6. Gayathri, R. et. al. (2021). A review on biological carbon sequestration: A sustainable solution for a cleaner air environment, less pollution and lower health risks. Journal of King Saud University-Science, 33(2), 101282. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksus.2020.101282
7. UC Davis (2023). What is Geological Carbon Sequestration? [Online]. Available at: https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/definitions/carbon-sequestration/geological [Accessed on November 05, 2024].
8. Fagorite, V. et al. (2023). The major techniques, advantages, and pitfalls of various methods used in geological carbon sequestration. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 20, 4585–4614. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-022-04351-0
9. Liu, J. et. al. (2023). A new approach to CO2 capture and sequestration: A novel carbon capture artificial aggregates made from biochar and municipal waste incineration bottom ash. Construction and Building Materials, 398, 132472. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.132472
10. International Energy Access, University of Michigan, Library (2019). Global Roadmap for Implementing CO2 Utilization. [Online]. Available at: https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/150624 [Accessed on November 06, 2024].
11. International Energy Access (2023). Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage. [Online]. Available at: https://www.iea.org/energy-system/carbon-capture-utilisation-and-storage/bioenergy-with-carbon-capture-and-storage [Accessed on November 06, 2024]
12. Total Energies. (2024). Northern Lights, the First Major Carbon Capture and Storage Project in Norway. Decarbonization solution. [Online]. Available at: https://totalenergies.com/projects/carbon-capture-and-storage/northern-lights-first-major-carbon-capture-and-storage-project [Accessed on November 06, 2024]

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