Achieving Net-Zero Emissions: Challenges and Opportunities

Carbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS) and Hydrogen (H2) are core components of the Energy Transition, providing opportunities for decarbonisation of fossil fuels’ use in power generation and industrial use, and reduction of CO2 emissions from various manufacturing sectors. However, these energy technologies can go further, as they also have other applications such as delivering deep decarbonisation and net-zero commitments. Firstly, CCUS enables carbon removal and negative emissions though Direct Air Capture and Bioenergy with CCS. Secondly, H2 enables a way to improve the use of renewable power through electrolytic conversion into H2-based energy storage, distribution and production of fuels, and a feedstock for other products commonly referred to as Power to X.

Both CCUS and H2 technologies still exist today, with large-scale projects in place since the early 1970’s. Globally, CCUS is currently delivering 40 million tonnes of CO2 abatement, and over 70 million tonnes of pure H2 production today. This is mainly performed by the oil and gas industry associated with gas processing, enhanced oil production, oil refining, and petrochemicals. However, both CCUS and H2 are lagging in deployment at scales needed to reach their mid-century contributions to the energy transition. The webinar will answer questions such as: What scale is needed by 2050? What are the challenges to deployment today? What technological improvements to cost are possible? What policy and regulations are needed to achieve deployment at scale?