Global Climate News

The United States hosted a technical program on Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) from March 3-5, 2025, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX. The event featured presentations and discussions on various themes including subsurface storage, site selection, injectivity challenges, and global CCUS implementation. Companies like Net Power, ExxonMobil, and Chevron participated, highlighting advancements in CO2 storage and utilization technologies. The program also included discussions on policy innovations for CCUS in India and a model for developing oil and gas regions globally, such as the Niger Delta.

US-based MIT chemical engineer Zachary Smith is developing highly efficient filters to replace energy-intensive gas, liquid, and ion separation processes. His company, Osmoses, aims to reduce energy consumption by up to 90 percent in industrial processes by using room temperature membranes.

Researchers have developed GelCam, a camera system that captures time-lapse images of particles settling in a sediment trap, enabling observation of time-varying particle flux over shorter durations. The system was deployed nine times during EXPORTS campaigns in 2018 and 2021 in the North Pacific and Atlantic oceans, revealing diel variation in fecal pellet flux and allowing investigation of covariance among different particle types over short timescales. This enhances the ability to resolve sinking events that may be missed with traditional methods.

\"Norway saw record-high gas production in 2024, reaching 124 billion Sm3, exceeding the 122.8 billion Sm3 from 2022. The Norwegian Offshore Directorate highlights the increased importance of Norwegian gas due to the halt of Russian gas transport via Ukraine. Exploration activity remained high, with several small discoveries considered for development. Production is expected to remain stable before a gradual decline toward the end of the 2020s. Investments in fields, discoveries, and infrastructure are needed to slow this decline. Significant interest in CO2 storage is also noted, with 11 licenses awarded.\"

Japan-based Green Science Alliance has developed a sustainable method to produce Metal Organic Framework (MOF) from waste PET bottles. The company used terephthalic acid from recycled PET and a solid-state synthesis procedure to reduce production costs. This sustainable MOF will be used in rechargeable batteries, fuel cells, and CO2 capture.

The UK government awarded nearly £52 million to 25 businesses to reduce their carbon emissions. Projects include heat pumps, carbon capture, and expanding recycling capacity. Notable recipients include Heinz (£2.5M grant, £5M investment), Hanson Cement (£5.6M grant), and Novelis (£14M grant). Total project value is £154 million.

Researchers at Aarhus University in Denmark have developed a new technology using microorganisms to convert CO2 from flue gases into usable products like methane or acetic acid. This bio-integrated carbon capture and utilisation (BICCU) method avoids high-heat separation processes, reducing costs and offering a more efficient way to recycle CO2 from industrial emissions.

The IEEFA report highlights financial risks of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Canada, specifically the Pathways Project in Alberta. The project, aiming to capture CO2 from 13 oil sands facilities, faces cost challenges exceeding potential revenue, threatening financial sustainability and potentially requiring substantial government subsidies. The report indicates that operating costs are growing at twice the rate of CO2 captured volumes, and an oversupply of carbon emission performance credits (EPCs) risks reducing project revenues.

UK-based Uniper is exploring the development of a new carbon capture power station in the Humber region. The Killingholme Low Carbon Power project involves developing a combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station and installing carbon capture technology to remove CO2 emissions. The project aims to be operational by 2030, with a capacity of at least 470MW.

Researchers at UC Davis and Stanford University found that building materials like concrete and plastic can store billions of tons of CO2. They calculated that if 10% of the world’s concrete aggregate production were carbonateable, it could absorb a gigaton of CO2. The study suggests that storing CO2 in buildings, combined with decarbonization efforts, could help achieve emission reduction goals. The research was supported by a National Science Foundation grant.

The 2024 carbon dioxide removal (CDR) market grew 2.4 times larger than in 2023, with annual purchases increasing by 7.5 million tonnes of CO2. Biomass-based CDR dominated (82% of purchases), while Direct Air Capture declined to 11%. Two BECCS providers, Stockholm Exergi and Ørsted, captured over 70% of offtakes. Scandinavia and North America led in subsidizing CDR, with Sweden and Denmark committing $5 billion in public funding. Despite Biomass-CDR’s dominance in volume, DAC received the largest share of private investment.

Canadian companies Deep Sky and Low Carbon have announced a power purchase agreement, signifying a partnership between carbon removal and clean energy industries. This collaboration is expected to attract further investment and job creation in regions that support such initiatives. The Pembina Institute highlights the potential for growth in this sector.

\"Multiple European organizations urged the EU Commission to integrate carbon dioxide removal (CDR) into the Clean Industrial Deal. They emphasized the need for streamlined permitting, an IPCEI for CDR, competitive financial incentives, and investment in workforce development to achieve climate neutrality. The projected market size for CDR is €220 billion with 670,000 new jobs by 2050.\"

Researchers at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS in Malaysia synthesized six 1,8-diazabicyclo(5.4.0)undec-7-ene-based ionic liquids for CO2 capture. The highest CO2 sorption was 0.96 mol CO2 mol−1 IL at 20 bar. The study investigated the effects of chain length in the cation and anion identity on CO2 absorption.

Researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark have developed a new technology using microorganisms to convert CO2 from flue gas into fuels or chemicals. This bio-integrated carbon capture and utilisation (BICCU) avoids high-heat separation processes, making carbon capture more cost-effective and transforming CO2 into reusable products.

Malaysia and Singapore have agreed to enhance collaboration in cross-border trading of renewable energy, including exploring pathways towards a credible framework for the mutual recognition of green attributes associated with cross-border electricity trade. They welcomed the inaugural pilot supply of green electricity from Malaysia to Singapore by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) to Sembcorp Power Pte. Ltd. via the Energy Exchange Malaysia (ENEGEM) auction platform, involving 50MW of electricity. A joint feasibility study by TNB and SP Group will explore expanding interconnector capacity and infrastructure.

US-based Cloverdale Paint and Celanese Corporation have partnered to create sustainable paint solutions using Celanese’s carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technology. The collaboration is expected to utilize over 1 million pounds of CO2 emissions annually in Cloverdale Paint's manufacturing.

India's Ministry of Coal organized Chintan Shivir 2.0, focusing on sustainable and innovative practices in the coal sector. The event emphasized aligning coal mining with global sustainability goals, reducing carbon emissions through technologies like coal gasification, improving mine safety, and promoting community involvement in sustainable development. The Ministry aims to achieve 2 billion tonnes of coal production while adopting cleaner technologies and ensuring responsible mine closures.

The research reviewed the nascent economic literature on the governance of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and discussed policy design and institutions. It assessed CDR's role in climate policy portfolios and highlighted cost-saving technological progress that could make CDR a game changer. The research also addressed challenges in CDR governance, such as non-permanence of carbon storage and default risks.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released its 10th annual Standard Scenarios, modeling least-cost electricity futures for the US through 2050. The 2024 edition shows significant growth in wind, solar, storage, and natural gas, with coal mostly retiring or retrofitting by 2032 under current policies. New scenarios include 100% net life-cycle CO2-equivalent decarbonization.