Reusing carbon, circular molecules
Engineering and delivering the future of CCS and e-fuels: bridging molecules to advanced molecules
Amna Bezanty, Richard Freeman, and Alex Howard Engineurs
F or years, carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been framed as the cost of maintaining the status quo – an insurance policy to offset the continued use of fossil fuels. However, this framing underestimates its strategic role. CCS is no longer just about permanent sequestration – it is about transformation. We are entering a new industrial era where captured carbon is not merely stored but repurposed, recycled, and synthesised into high- value products: fuels, chemicals, and materials. CCS is becoming a gateway to a truly circular carbon economy – one where waste carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) becomes a resource. Life cycle engineering is the catalyst for this shift. Beyond capturing emissions, the focus must now include the pathways that allow CO 2 to flow seamlessly into new value chains. We must design and deliver systems that route CO 2 into viable and proven utilisation pathways. From flue gas to fuel tank, successful circularity depends on robust work processes and engineering integration, along with flawless execution.
is also growing significantly. At the same time, utilisation pathways are expanding, highlighting the shift from pure storage towards more circular uses of captured carbon. To date, the focus for carbon capture has been on permanent storage, the ‘S’ in CCS. This is often framed as a regulatory obligation or liability to be managed. However, the recent Carbon Capture MENA Summit panel discussion on ‘Leveraging cutting-edge carbon capture solutions to create high-quality and cost- effective carbon removals’ highlighted the need for greater emphasis on utilisation of captured carbon, or CCUS. Permanent sequestration of CO 2 remains a critical part of the energy transition. However, considerable time is spent managing the risks and uncertainties around long-term liability and monitoring and verification obligations in an evolving regulatory landscape as well as addressing the need for public acceptance. This singular approach risks trapping carbon
2021
2030
5% Undetermined
2% Undetermined
CCS mitigates emissions, CCUS creates value Figure 1 shows that while global carbon capture capacity is projected to rise more than sixfold by 2030, the share of CO₂ routed to dedicated geological storage
3% Utilisation
Utilisation
Enhanced oil recovery
Dedicated geological storage
12%
20%
20%
43 MtCO
279 MtCO
Dedicated geological storage
73%
66%
Enhanced oil recovery
Figure 1 Global carbon capture capacity by CO 2 endpoint, 2021 and 2030 ( Bloomberg, 2022 )
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