Simple Explanation of Carbon Technology: A Critical Climate Tech

Along with reduction and adaptation, carbon technology is the third pillar of climate action. In its simplest essence, these are technological approaches to preventing carbon from being emitted into the atmosphere or removing carbon from the air Carbon removal (CR) is also known as carbon dioxide removal (CDR), negative emissions technologies (NETs), and climate technology, it is comprised of seven different approaches. Here are a series of succinct definitions along with links to more detailed information for those who want to take a deeper dive into these technologies.

As defined by the IPCC AR6, CDR refers to “technologies, practices, and approaches that remove and durably store carbon.” Carbon removal technologies are recognized by Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement. The technology is also acknowledged by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as a necessary part of climate technologies required to enable us to meet the goals laid out in the Paris Agreement. Most emissions mitigation scenarios involve large volumes of global CDR deployment.

Carbon technologies can be broadly understood as being comprised of a suite of technologies. There are different approaches to capturing carbon some use membranes, others use solid sorbents, amine scrubbers, and metal-organic frameworks. Some approaches leverage the CO2-absorbing characteristics of rocks like limestone. There are also different types of CDR. Carbon capture (CC) takes carbon out of flue gases by separating and capturing carbon dioxide before it enters the atmosphere.. Carbon capture, and sequestration (CCS) converts the captured carbon gas into a liquid form and then transports it to sequestration sites like saline aquifers. A common approach to sequestering carbon is known as geosequestration, which locks emissions away underground.* Captured CO2 can also be ‘locked away’ in manufactured products through what is known as carbon capture and utilization (CCU) which uses CO2 to make everything from fuel to bulletproof vests. Carbon capture utilization and sequestration (CCUS) uses captured CO2 to extract more oil and gas from a well through a process known as enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Rather than siphon carbon from flue gases at the source where they are produced, direct air capture (DAC), also known as direct air carbon capture and sequestration or DACCS, uses huge fans to remove CO2 from the ambient air. These different carbon removal technologies are distinct but they all work together to minimize atmospheric emissions.

Carbon removal technologies can be assessed by their viability, scalability, and cost. The companies leading the carbon capture technology space include Climeworks, Global Thermostat, Carbon Engineering, Net Power, and Quest.

There is another way of removing carbon known as natural climate solutions (NCS). This approach leverages natural processes like photosynthesis, to remove carbon from the ambient air. There are also a host of novel ways of removing carbon and a wide range of research directions are being explored.

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