Discussion on Carbon Sequestration
Carbon sequestration refers to the process of capturing and storing carbon or related forms of carbon such as methane or carbon dioxide. This process is often incorporated into land management or energy production strategies, and can play an important role in mitigating rising global temperatures.
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas (GHG). GHGs are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, making our planet warmer than it would normally be. As greenhouse gases stay in our atmosphere for long periods of time and because human activities release more greenhouses gases into our atmosphere, the planet is warming. According to various reports, the average global surface temperature has increased by about 2oF since the 1800s.
Carbon sequestration is one way to help reduce these GHGs. By capturing and storing greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, we can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released in the atmosphere and help mitigate the effects of global warming. There are a few different techniques used to capture the carbon dioxide, such as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) or directly air capture (DAC).
The bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technique involves capturing CO2 after it is produced through the burning of biomass fuels such as wood and other plant matter. The process is described as negative emissions because it actually removes carbon from the atmosphere. After the carbon is captured it is then stored in subsurface geological formations, such as deep underground saline aquifers or depleted oil and gas reservoirs.
Direct air capture (DAC) is a newer and more efficient technology for capturing CO2 directly from the atmosphere. This technology uses chemical sorbents that extract carbon dioxide directly from the air by passing it through a filter. The captured CO2 is then stored in deep underground saline aquifers or depleted oil and gas reservoirs—very similar to the way that BECCS functions.
Despite the potential of carbon sequestration to mitigate the effects of climate change, there are still many uncertainties surrounding the process. One major issue is that much of the technology involved in carbon capture and storage has yet to be proven or tested on a large scale. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the potential for carbon dioxide to leak from geological storage sites over time. Finally, there is also some debate about the cost of deploying carbon capture and storage.
Ultimately, carbon sequestration has the potential to help mitigate the effects of climate change and reverse some of the damage already done, but more research into the technology and costs of the process need to be conducted before it can be implemented on a global scale.
