Introduction
Carbon capture isn’t one-size-fits-all. Short-lived utilization can displace fossil feedstocks and build market momentum, while permanent burial locks CO₂ away for millennia. This article lays out the trade-offs, performance criteria, and strategic mix to meet both industrial and climate goals.
1. Everyday CO₂ Utilization Routes
Utilization adds value by converting CO₂ into products with finite life spans:
- Synthetic Fuels: Power-to-liquid fuels replace gasoline and jet fuel, but emit CO₂ again when burned.
- Building Materials: CO₂-cured concrete and carbonates in cement reduce cement clinker use, but performance varies.
- Polymers & Chemicals: CO₂ can make plastics, solvents, and polymers—locking carbon for years rather than centuries.
- Enhanced Oil Recovery: Injected CO₂ boosts oil output, temporarily storing CO₂ in reservoirs before most returns with produced oil.
2. Permanent Burial Options
True sequestration removes liability forever:
- Deep Geological Storage: Inject CO₂ into saline aquifers, basalt, or depleted fields for confinement under caprock.
- Carbon Mineralization: Bind CO₂ into stable carbonates via in-situ or ex-situ processes.
3. Decision Criteria: When to Use Which
- Duration Needed: Use products when short-term storage (<10 years) suffices; choose burial for multi-century climate goals.
- Scale & Cost: Utilization often offers lower entry costs and quicker deployment; burial requires infrastructure but scales to gigatons.
- Lifecycle Emissions: Account for re-emission at end-of-life.
- Market Development: Utilization stimulates demand for CO₂ capture, creating pathways to fund long-term projects.
4. Strategic Mix & Roadmap
2025–2030: Scale high-value utilization pilots alongside demonstration sequestration hubs.
2030–2035: Channel revenue from utilization into burial infrastructure.
2035+: Predominantly permanent storage, with utilization niches for industrial feedstocks.
Conclusion
Both everyday capture and deep sequestration have roles to play. By matching tools to timelines, scale, and climate targets, we can build a carbon-negative future that leverages market forces today while securing permanence for tomorrow.