California Institute for Energy and Environment (CIEE)

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is an important technology for greenhouse gas reduction worldwide, and it may be a critical component to enable California to meet its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. CCUS is a suite of different types of technologies used to capture carbon dioxide emissions from power plants or large industrial point sources and use this captured carbon dioxide for various purposes including storage, and injecting in rock formations deep underground. Technologies for measuring and monitoring carbon dioxide in the subsurface or in surface facilities also are part of this suite. Because of the complexity and diversity of CCUS technologies, there are numerous challenges to its deployment. The elements to undertaking a CCUS project include both technical and nontechnical—reducing the risks associated with these elements are essential to assuring CCUS is an effective and economic mitigation technology. The greatest risks are associated with the subsurface; thus, proper site characterization and monitoring are important to project success. This report reviews the findings from projects and activities in California, North America and worldwide and addresses the key questions California policy makers must answer to facilitate CCUS deployment effectively.