The question arises: with people consuming incessantly and emitting more than 50 billion tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere annually, is there any way to achieve net-zero emissions? Indeed, from waking up in the morning, turning on the lights, showering, driving to work, turning on our laptops, and eating, almost every activity emits greenhouse gases. This doesn't even include factories producing goods and equipment, as well as transportation, which all emit greenhouse gases.

 

Of course, 50 billion tons of greenhouse gases per year won't simply disappear. But if we take the right steps and address the issues, Net Zero is not impossible. What countries around the world are striving for is: Significantly reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere by transitioning the economy to a fully low-carbon society as quickly as possible is essential. One key element in achieving significant greenhouse gas reductions is carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture, as 80% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions are primarily carbon dioxide. Here, we will discuss a technology currently being touted as the world's most promising: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

 

CCS is a technology that captures and stores carbon underground in rock formations. It involves three steps: (1) capturing carbon from industrial or atmospheric sources; (2) adjusting the pressure appropriately for transport via pipelines, ships, or trucks; and (3) permanently storing it in rock formations with appropriate structure, property, and depth, either onshore or offshore. This process avoids emissions into the atmosphere while also minimizing pollution to surrounding areas and the ocean. Carbon sequestration considers various factors, including assessing the storage capacity of the rock formation, assessing the sequestration efficiency of the underground geological environment, assessing the ability to inject carbon into the rock formation, and monitoring the injected carbon for safety.

 

Carbon sequestration It's not injected all at once but gradually stored at the appropriate rate to ensure no leakage and no subsequent impacts. Once carbon is injected, the carbon's status is monitored to determine if it changes or moves.
Regarding the question of why CCS is needed, a simple comparison is given. Thailand covers approximately 320 million rai of land and emits approximately 320 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. To achieve significant carbon reduction, consider (1) reforestation. Reforestation of 1 million rai of land will sequester approximately 2 million tons of carbon per year. However, to achieve 320 million tons of carbon reduction alone, 50% of Thailand's land area would need to be forested. This approach alone is nearly impossible. (2) Electric vehicle use is estimated to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 30–40 million tons per year, leaving a significant amount of carbon remaining to manage. If (3) CCS technology is used, it would reduce carbon by another 40 million tons per year by 2050, increasing to 60 million tons per year by 2065. A combined approach to carbon reduction, with CCS as the primary tool, combined with electric vehicle use, industrial investment in developing production processes to reduce carbon emissions, and offsetting the remaining carbon through reforestation. This is a realistic approach, believed to drive Thailand toward achieving its Net Zero Emissions target by 2065

 

According to the Global CCS Institute, nearly 800 commercial and pilot CCS projects have been developed worldwide, including in Norway, the United States, and Japan, with a rapid increase in North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region.
The world's first CCS project, "Northern Lights," enabling industry to transport and store carbon, was launched in Norway. The project, called "Northern Lights," was co-developed by global energy companies Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies, with initial support from the Norwegian government. The initial goal is to capture and store approximately 1.5 million tons of carbon per year, equivalent to reforesting hundreds of thousands to millions of rai. The focus is on capturing carbon from the cement industry and other heavy industries that inevitably release carbon.

 

In Thailand, CCS technology is not far-fetched. Thai companies like PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) are exploring the application of CCS in the Gulf of Thailand at the Arthit gas field. This pilot project is estimated to capture 1 million tons of carbon per year, with more clarity expected within this year. However, actual carbon capture and storage will begin. It still needs about three years of development. CCS technology is a reverse engineering process for petroleum exploration and production, where carbon, a byproduct of fossil fuel use, is returned to the rock formations where the fossil fuels were extracted or stored in other suitable rock formations.

 

 

Reference: Ten - NEWs