Can Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Help Decarbonize the Grid?

As electricity demand increases from the proliferation of data centers and increasing electrification, fossil fuel power plants with carbon capture and storage (CCS) are being considered as a potential source of “clean firm” energy generation, able to provide lower-carbon electricity on demand for long periods of time.  

This 5-page fact sheet from Clean Energy Group evaluates the viability of CCS as a decarbonization tool.  

The fact sheet concludes that the high cost and questionable efficacy of CCS make it poorly suited to meet near-term energy demand and reduce pollution. There are only two operational CCS power plants in the world, and neither has achieved a high carbon capture rate. Most operational CCS projects are used for fossil fuel extraction, perpetuating reliance on polluting industries and negating any environmental benefits. Additionally, CCS projects are 50 percent more expensive than renewable energy resources such as solar and wind. A single CCS project can require over a billion dollars in upfront investment. Other clean firm energy sources, such as geothermal or long-duration energy storage, are likely to be more cost effective, safer, and faster to deploy. 

This fact sheet is the first in a new series on clean firm energy generation. Forthcoming fact sheets will cover nuclear, renewable natural gas, and geothermal.