Latest Research Trends and Challenges in Carbon Capture Technology

The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) has stipulated that over 10 billion tons of carbon dioxide must be captured annually by 2050 to keep the global average temperature rise within 1.5°C. Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technology is a realistic means to remove carbon emissions from industries heavily reliant on fossil fuels such as steel, cement, and chemicals, yet a persistent gap remains between laboratory achievements and actual commercialization.

Three Approaches to Carbon Capture Technology

Post-combustion capture separates carbon dioxide from exhaust gases after fuel combustion at power plants and industrial facilities. It has clear advantages and limitations in its applicability to existing infrastructure. As a retrofittable add-on device, it has the broadest application scope, and the majority of global CCUS commercial projects currently adopt this method.

The core of research lies in improving the efficiency of absorbents. Previously, amine-based absorbents were predominantly used, but the significant thermal energy required for their regeneration increases operational costs. To overcome this, research into next-generation adsorbents utilizing porous nanomaterials like MOFs (Metal-Organic Frameworks) and COFs (Covalent Organic Frameworks) is rapidly advancing. These materials exhibit high selectivity for carbon dioxide and low-temperature regeneration properties that reduce energy consumption. Hybrid process designs combining membrane separation technology with chemical absorption are also being researched to enhance energy efficiency.

Direct Air Capture (DAC), considered the most ambitious endeavor, is the only means to remove dispersed carbon whose emission sources are difficult to pinpoint, by directly collecting carbon dioxide diluted to approximately 420 ppm in the atmosphere. Climeworks in Iceland operates using a solid adsorbent method, while Carbon Engineering in Canada employs a potassium hydroxide-based liquid absorption method in pilot operations.

As of 2023, the annual capture capacity of global DAC facilities is only around 10,000 to 20,000 tons. However, with accelerated construction projects for large-scale plants in the U.S., Canada, Iceland, and other regions, this is expected to expand to tens of millions of tons by 2030. DAC powered by renewable energy theoretically enables carbon-negative effects, and research and development for modular, decentralized installation is also underway.

Pre-combustion capture, a specialized technology for industrial applications, separates carbon dioxide at the syngas stage before fuel combustion, showing high compatibility with hydrogen production processes. The key technical challenge is the development of ceramic membranes that operate stably in high-temperature and high-pressure environments. Oxy-fuel combustion, which uses pure oxygen instead of air, dramatically increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in the flue gas to improve capture efficiency, and research is being conducted in parallel with NOx reduction technologies.

Practical Barriers Hindering Commercialization

The cost issue, which requires lowering capture prices, remains the biggest barrier to the economic viability of carbon capture technology. Current estimates for carbon dioxide capture costs range from tens of dollars to over $100 per ton, depending on the method. In addition to the initial investment in capture facilities, operational costs accumulate due to additional energy consumption during compression, transportation, and storage. DAC, in particular, requires several times more energy than point-source capture due to the low concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere.

To achieve economic feasibility, alongside cost reduction through technological development, a market structure that allows for the recovery of capture costs through policy instruments such as carbon taxes and emissions trading schemes is necessary. Direct subsidies and tax incentives for CCUS facility investments are also being discussed in various countries.

Regarding storage space acquisition and safety verification, captured carbon dioxide is primarily considered for permanent storage by injecting it into depleted oil and gas fields or deep saline aquifers. Technical verification items include the capacity of storage-capable geological structures, long-term leakage risks, and the possibility of micro-earthquakes due to changes in underground pressure. Safety cannot be guaranteed without a continuous underground monitoring system.

Social acceptance is also an undeniable variable. Cases of local resident opposition have been reported during the site selection process for onshore storage facilities, and the development of offshore storage entails additional infrastructure costs. Large-scale storage infrastructure can only be built by parallel efforts in geological stability assessment and building public trust.

The commercialization of carbon utilization (CCU) is another challenge that needs to be addressed. CCU, which converts captured carbon dioxide into useful substances like concrete additives, plastics, and synthetic fuels, is discussed as an alternative to improve the economic efficiency of CCUS. Recently, research is also underway on converting captured CO₂ into new carbon-based materials. However, the conversion process itself is often energy-intensive, or the resulting products struggle to compete with existing ones on price. Commercially successful CCU examples remain limited, and technological innovation and the establishment of an industrial ecosystem are needed to create large-scale markets.

The Future of CCUS: Integration Strategies with Energy Transition

CCUS yields greater effects when integrated with renewable energy and the hydrogen economy than when operating independently. Driving DAC with solar and wind power can achieve negative emissions. Furthermore, Power-to-X technologies that combine captured CO₂ with green hydrogen to produce synthetic fuels or chemical feedstocks serve as both energy storage and decarbonization solutions. These integration strategies are expected to enhance the economic viability of CCUS and provide pathways for carbon reduction in industries difficult to electrify, such as aviation, shipping, and steel.

Technological development alone is insufficient; therefore, the importance of policy and international cooperation is also emphasized. For CCUS technology to establish itself as a practical climate response measure, the establishment of a predictable carbon pricing system must precede it. If emission prices are low, companies will have no incentive to invest in capture facilities. Government support for CCUS facility investment, infrastructure development for long-term storage, and international cooperation frameworks for technology transfer and joint research are necessary. The annual target of 10 billion tons of capture for achieving Paris Agreement goals is a scale that cannot be achieved by any single country or company alone.

CCUS technology is not a 'silver bullet' for responding to the climate crisis. It can only contribute substantially to achieving net-zero goals when pursued in parallel with the expansion of renewable energy and improvements in energy efficiency.

Although carbon capture technology is rapidly advancing at the research level, it must overcome three practical barriers simultaneously: cost, storage, and commercialization. When policy support and international cooperation keep pace with technological development speed, CCUS is expected to function as a key pillar in the path to carbon neutrality by 2050.