Carbon Capture and storage system[CCS]- A technology that helps in capturing CO2 and storing it underground. CO2 can be captured or collected from industries and other emissions and transported to the storage area via pipelines and containers.
Carbon dioxide [CO2]- A greenhouse gas that is emitted naturally and through human activities. Increase in CO2 levels leads to global warming. Plants are doing their bit by absorbing CO2 but they alone can not control the increasing levels of CO2.
CO2 is a component of natural gas which is collected from the ground. Through CCS technology CO2 can safely be sent back to the ground from where it was collected. It can be stored deep down below porous rocks in deep saline aquifers or depleted oil gas fields. This helps in mimicking the natural way of fossil fuel and mineral formation.
Royal Dutch Shell has started with Quest CCS project in Canada. It has developed a commercial-scale CCS facility for CO2 extracted from our oil sand operations. In 2 years, it has successfully collected and stored more than 2 million tons of CO2 into saline aquifers. Quest has a rigorous monitoring system which ensures that CO2 is safely stored underground. The monitoring system enables Quest to determine the concentration of the gas stored.
Currently, 21 large-scale CCS projects are being developed around the world. All these CCS projects will have a combined potential to capture around 40 million tons of CO2 each year. According to International Energy Agency [IEA], CCS technology can play a significant role in controlling climate change. CCS technology is a sustainable way to collect CO2 and replenish the carbon source underground.