Last month, I completed the Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Executive Education Program at the University of Houston. Here are my key takeaways:
1- The CCUS industry is nascent yet complex, encompassing various industries and CO2 emission sources. While it presents challenges, CCUS is an essential component of any climate mitigation strategy that does not rely upon energy deprivation. We should shift our focus from energy deprivation as the ultimate solution to climate change.
2- Hate carbon emissions, not fossil fuels. Regulatory agendas often target fossil fuels, but the real issue is carbon emissions. CCUS offers a solution, enabling zero-emission use of fossil fuels. Many regions don’t have the luxury of deploying renewable energy or new technology. As Mike Nasi wisely noted in the course, we need a 'developing world mentality with developed world resources.'
3- Where is the ‘T’ (i.e., transportation) in the acronym CCUS? You would think that it is the easiest part of this puzzle. But while capture, utilization and storage require the largest investments, transportation is the greatest barrier for an effective CCUS commercialization.
4- To enhance the deployability of CCUS, it is important to first establish a robust infrastructure in high-pressure and high-purity carbon stream categories, which are the most cost-effective for CO2 capture. This approach will pave the way for scaling up other more challenging categories, such as the dilute category, which compromises roughly 2/3 of carbon emissions.
Journalist, Publisher, Haepenny, LLC | Incubator Fellow @ IMPEL | Green Building Materials Innovation
1moPsssst. it was the #hempcrete