What are carbon removal technologies?

What is carbon removal?

Carbon removal, also carbon dioxide removal (CDR), are the human activities designed to remove carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere and durably store it in geological, terrestrial, or ocean reservoirs – or within products. CDRs vary according to their maturity, removal method, carbon storage time scale, mitigation potential, cost, co-benefits, impacts, risks, and governance requirements.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), achieving net zero emissions requires both substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and the use of CDR methods to counterbalance unabated emissions.

Processes to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

There are numerous ways to categorise CDR methods; in general, they can be split into two types: technological and nature-based solutions. Not all methods are included here.

Nature-based solutions

Nature-based solutions are actions that protect, conserve, and restore ecosystems while also addressing societal and economic difficulties. These solutions are important because they re-focus the debate away from just biodiversity conservation and management principles to also include societal issues – such as enhanced biodiversity and improved water quality.

• Afforestation and reforestation (A/R): afforestation refers to establishing forests on land that was historically non-forested, while reforestation involves planting trees on previously forested land.
• Biochar: producing organic matter through pyrolysis – decomposition of organic materials through high temperatures without combustion – and gasification of feedstocks like agricultural residues. Biochar systems that apply biochar to soil alongside bioenergy offer greater carbon dioxide removal benefits.
• Blue carbon management: restoring and conserving coastal wetlands like mangroves and salt marshes that sequester carbon. This management improves water quality, enhances biodiversity, boosts fisheries production, and protects against sea-level rise and storms.
• Agroforestry: integrating trees and shrubs with crops and livestock to accumulate carbon in vegetation and soil. This approach enhances land productivity, diversifies livelihoods, reduces soil erosion, and improves water quality.
• Improved forest management: enhancing practices in managed forests to increase carbon stocks and wood production while maintaining carbon levels and mitigating disturbances.

Carbon removal technology

Carbon removal technologies use engineered processes to capture and store carbon dioxide, often involving chemical, industrial, or mechanical methods.

• BECCS (bioenergy with carbon capture and storage): combining bioenergy production from biomass sources with carbon capture and storage technologies to reduce emissions by replacing fossil fuels in energy production.
• DACCS (direct air carbon capture and storage): capturing carbon directly from the atmosphere using a chemical process, followed by underground storage or product utilization. It involves contacting air, capturing carbon, and regenerating sorbents, potentially achieving negative emissions over its lifecycle with low-carbon energy.
• Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) and Ocean Fertilization (OF): increasing the ocean's carbon sequestration capacity. OAE enhances ocean alkalinity, while OF utilizes the biological pump to transfer carbon from the atmosphere to the deep ocean.

Carbon removal benefits

The IPCC argues that CDR, alongside sustained emissions reduction, can fulfil mitigation goals at three levels:

1. Lowering net GHG emissions in the near term
2. Taking responsibility for unabated emissions to reach net zero in the mid-term
3. Achieving net negative emissions in the long term

To meet these goals, it is necessary to balance a diverse portfolio of CDR options due to their varying degrees of maturity, costs, risks, co-benefits, timescale, and storage medium. For instance, most technical removals are in their nascent stages, which will require years of funding to scale up, while nature-based solutions like afforestation and reforestation can be supported today.

How to support carbon removal projects

ClimatePartner offers expert guidance, procurement, and retirement services for verified emission reductions (VERs) / carbon credits. Our diverse portfolio includes climate projects that utilise various technologies, ensuring flexibility and impact.

By purchasing VERs, your company not only takes responsibility for unabated emissions but also supports projects that contribute to carbon removals.

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