(162a) How Carbon Capture and Storage Can Fail and Why It Won't

This paper discusses challenges that may hinder or delay widespread adoption of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Focusing on technical, economic, social, and regulatory aspects, it aims to pinpoint specific obstacles, such as the financial burden on energy production, uncertainties in long-term storage impacts, and the intricate regulatory framework governing CCS projects and pipelines. Reaching net zero emissions will be virtually impossible without widespread CCS; however, challenges and risks remain widespread.

The following challenges are addressed for capture, transportation and storage.

• Technological Challenges: These include energy use, capture efficiency, storage integrity, transportation, and infrastructure, and limited “use” applications.
• Economics and Financial Risks: Reducing capital and operating costs, addressing long-term liabilities, uncertainty of revenue streams, and carbon pricing/taxation.
• Regulatory and Policy Risks: Potential for shifting regulatory support, absence or inadequacy of carbon pricing, tax incentives or subsidies, authorization of permits, requirements for monitoring and actions, and long-term liabilities.
• Environmental and Safety Risks: Geological risks including assessing and mitigating geological risks associated with CO₂ storage, such as potential leakage from various routes, induced seismicity, and subsurface interactions. Minimizing ecological impacts of CCS projects on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, including effects on biodiversity, water quality, and land use.
• Public Perception and Social Risk: The perception that CCS exists primarily to extend the commercial life of oil and gas activity, the NIMBY and BANANA problem, public skepticism, or opposition due to concerns about safety, environmental impacts, and reliance on fossil fuels. “Not in my back yard” or NIMBY refers to opposition to projects near ones residence while “build absolutely nothing near anybody” or BANANA refers to people who oppose almost any new project.
• Challenges with community engagement to ensure transparency, address concerns, and secure social license for CCS projects, particularly regarding site selection and environmental impact assessments. Social equity concerns also remain.
• Startup and Scaleup Risks: Costs and performance of first-of-a-kind (FOAK) facilities have often been problematic and challenges for implementing n_th-of-a-kind (NOAK) facilities will continue to the degree that each facility needs to have bespoke design characteristics. Massive cost reductions in wind and solar power generation costs and batteries have occurred with widespread commercial adoption, manufacturing efficiencies and rapid technological improvements. The pace of cost reductions in the scaleup of CCS is likely to be much less pronounced.

More than a dozen projects are discussed in terms of challenges associated with startup and operations along with lessons learned.