Equilibre des Énergies unveils its study "Capture, storage and recovery of CO2: issues that should not be ignored"

The steel industry, chemicals, the production of cement, petroleum products, industrial heat or even the food industry are all sectors that emit CO2 likely to be captured and then transported, stored and/or recovered, particularly in fuels. of low-carbon synthesis for the aviation and maritime sectors.

For Brice Lalonde, former Minister of the Environment and President of Équilibre des Énergies: “The climate challenge requires the development of all techniques that reduce emissions. Following the impetus given by Europe, France must have its own strategy for capturing and using CO2. »

The year 2023 will be marked by the five-year planning law on energy and climate (LPEC) and the green industry law. They will be an opportunity for France to update its decarbonization objectives and support the sectors participating in this movement.

A few months before the examination of these two texts, the study "Capture, storage and recovery of CO2: issues that should not be ignored" aims to enlighten public or private decision-makers on the issue of techniques related at the CCUS and on the interest of carrying out an offensive development strategy there.

No carbon neutrality without erasing emissions

One of the difficulties in the fight against global warming lies in the fact that human activity can hardly do without carbon. Whatever the scenario, even after all other measures to reduce CO2 emissions have been taken, it will still be necessary to erase the residual emissions. Because carbon remains essential to the production of many processes or products, including sustainable fuels for aviation.

It is therefore necessary both to encourage the trapping and storage of CO2 in geological layers, because the natural carbon sinks will be insufficient, and to develop, with a view to the circular economy, the recovery of this CO2. In addition, CO2 may one day be recovered directly from the atmosphere.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) retains considerable figures ranging from 5,4 to 7,6 GtCO2 of emissions avoided in 2050/2070 on a global scale thanks to the CCUS, while the European Union estimates this contribution between 330 to 550 MtCO2.

Getting to grips with the challenge: implementing a French CCUS strategy

At a time when the European Union is embarking on a reflection to define and promote a pan-European CO2 transport and storage infrastructure bringing together the CO2 hub projects that have emerged in recent years, France must not find itself isolated . The integration of these techniques into the draft net-Zero Industry Act (n-ZIA), unveiled on March 16 by the European Commission, should also help accelerate the emergence of continent-wide projects.

Equilibre des Énergies calls on the government to take into account, in the new French Energy and Climate Strategy (SFEC), the contribution of the CCUS, both in terms of its decarbonization potential and its impact on industrial activity.

The think tank also invites the French public authorities to make proposals at the international level aimed at removing the obstacles to the transport and storage of CO2 in deep geological layers.

Find all of thestudy of Balance of Energies here.