To meet net zero targets will require CO2 emitters to adopt a combination of technologies, including both CCS and CCU. But which is available — today — at commercial scale?

There is no doubt that CCUS (a combination of Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage) is set to play a major role in many verticals and industries in the coming years to help them meet their climate change and CSR obligations and requirements. But which options are available for you, today?

Global capture capacity for CCS is expected to grow five times in the next five years

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is considered the option with the most promise in terms of CO2 capacity. According to the Global CCS Institute, the global capture capacity of facilities is projected to grow five times between 2025 and 2030. In its Global Status of CCS 2025 report, that would mean that total global capture capacity could grow from 65 Mtpa today to 337 Mtpa over that period, equating to a potential CAGR of nearly 40%.

It notes that supportive CCS-specific policy, regulations, and legislative advances are boosting the number of CCS projects that are now under consideration. However, it also notes that there is a long way to go in terms of operation, construction, and development of CCS initiatives.

It counts 77 facilities in operation, but the largest two segments are either in early or advanced development (313 and 297 facilities, respectively), with 47 under construction. Many projects are still in the trial and proof of concept stage, and there are still environmental, political, and economic issues for CCS to overcome. It is not yet proven to be cost-effective at the level needed and, importantly, carbon capture technology is not considered advanced enough at a scale that would be meaningful.

Is CCS the ‘magic bullet’?

At the same time, many governments and scientists believe that the focus should be more on renewable energy and storage, and reduced demand. CCS should be, it been suggested, reserved for applications, such as cement kilns or glass manufacture, which require high temperatures.

And, the Global CCS Institute calculates that when CCS is attached to coal and gas power stations it is likely to be at least six times more expensive than electricity generated by wind power supported by battery storage.

Carbon Capture and Utilisation, on the other hand, has been proven at scale by companies such as Remediiate. It’s a complementary approach that allows businesses to begin their abatement journey in earnest, offering real scale, even while progress is made with CCS solutions.

Remediiate’s CCU solution is available today at commercial scale

And that’s where we come in. We’ve pioneered CCU, taking it from trial to a field-proven technology – based on our innovations in algae culture.

As a result of our investments, we provide the first commercially available CCU solution that has been independently proven at scale. It enables you to capture emissions at source and comply with new legislation intended to enforce abatement programmes and emission reduction.

We capture purified CO2 from the flue, removing Scope 1 liabilities for the emitter at source. The captured carbon is then feed into an on-premise tank filled with microalgae. The CO2 is used by the algae for photosynthesis to produce carbohydrates and sugars.

These end products can then be converted into useful, practical products, such as biomass, animal feed, and building materials, creating a virtuous loop of reduced energy demand. So, our technology turns your industrial CO2 emissions into valuable products that can be sold into different sectors.

Remediiate provide a complete, end-to-end solution and managed service for CCU, including:

• Site evaluation
• Financial assessment
• On-site deployment and activation
• Supply of algal culture source material
• Supply of nutrients
• Water treatment, recycling and reuse
• Operation, monitoring and remote optimisation of growth cycles
• Harvest and removal of offtake
• Sale and distribution of offtake
• CO2 abatement calculations

Our foundation client is Vale Nickel, which emits 36,000 tons of CO2 / year. We are the only CCU provider that does not require REE or critical minerals as part of our solution.

Furthermore, our innovative approach to CCU requires less electricity compared to other CCU solutions, such as chemical catalytic, thermocatalytic and photocatalytic conversion, reducing costs in countries with high energy prices. Our cultivation rate and yield delivery are unprecedented.

Remediiate provides a turnkey solution that enables carbon mitigation at source — and compliance with regulations — that can be deployed today — without the need to transport or relocate emissions.

To find out more, contact us today.