Carbon capture and storage (CCS)
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) offers a way to reduce emissions, including from sectors that are slower-to-decarbonise. Learn more about this technology and how Shell is working to unlock its potential around the world.
Why is CCS important?
There is no single solution to the urgent challenge of cutting carbon emissions to limit global temperature rise. Meeting the more ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement, to limit the rise in the global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, will require significant changes to the way people live, work, move, and play.
Where possible, society needs to avoid and reduce emissions through energy-efficiency measures, increased electrification and switching to lower-carbon fuels. But even with all these measures in place, technologies that help capture and store CO2 will be necessary to reduce emissions in areas where there are few scalable, low-carbon alternatives available today.
Most climate scientists recognise that the world needs CCS technology if society is to achieve net-zero emissions. At Shell, we also believe that CCS is essential to achieve net-zero emissions.
Most climate scientists recognise that the world needs CCS technology if society is to achieve net zero emissions. At Shell, we also believe that CCS will be essential to achieve net-zero emissions.
Shell’s CCS projects
From Australia to Canada, and the Netherlands to Norway, Shell is part of the development of CCS technology and projects globally.
The future of CCS
Shell is currently actively developing CCS projects in the North Sea, the Americas and Asia. For the rest of the decade, we are directing most of our investment in CCS towards decarbonising our own operations. We are also investing in CCS to help other companies decarbonise their operations.
However, in many countries CCS still lacks a clear business model. To address this challenge, Shell advocates policy mechanisms to enable CCS, and supports industry partnerships dedicated to the growth of commercially viable CCS projects.
Read more about Shell's CCS policy positions
Did you know?
CCS technology isn’t new.
CCS draws on technologies that the oil and gas industry has been using for more than 50 years, with some CCS projects in operation for around 20 years. Today, according to the Global CCS Institute, there are multiple operational CCS projects that together can capture and store around 40 million tonnes of CO2 every year.
CCS capacity is growing.
While there are only around 50 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of CCS in operation today, according to the Global CCS Institute, globally there are around 300 mtpa of projects under consideration. Many net-zero scenarios show the industry growing to more than 1,000 mtpa by the mid-2030s.
CO₂ can be transported in different ways.
Most CO2 is transported between capture and storage locations by pipeline. However, where a pipeline is not feasible, shipping is an alternative form of transportation. Shell Shipping and Maritime is playing a leading role in the development of the world’s first vessels specifically designed to carry liquid CO2 derived from CCS.
Shell is a leading provider of technologies that capture CO₂
We are using CCS technologies to reduce our own carbon emissions and we license them to customers to help them reduce their emissions.
Shell is also involved in the development of direct air capture technology
Direct air capture (DAC) uses technology to remove CO2 from the air. Air from the atmosphere is first stripped of CO2, and then the CO2-depleted air is released back into the atmosphere, while the captured CO2 is permanently stored underground or reused as feedstock in, for example, the production of e-chemicals or e-fuels.
Learn more about CCS
Will CCS really help us tackle climate change?
Will CCS really help us tackle climate change?
Yes, CCS can help us tackle climate change. Several governments and organisations, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and International Energy Agency (IEA), recognise that the widespread use of CCS is essential to achieving the more ambitious goal of the Paris Agreement, to limit the rise in the global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The amount of CCS in these scenarios typically range from 3-7 gigatonnes per year globally by 2050. This is approximately 100 times higher than the roughly 50 million tonnes of CO2 currently stored every year (as of 2023). The world, therefore, needs to rapidly scale up the capture and storage of CO2 ahead of 2050.
Is CCS safe and how can you ensure that the CO₂ will remain under the ground?
Is CCS safe and how can you ensure that the CO₂ will remain under the ground?
Is CCS safe and how can you ensure that the CO2 will remain under the ground?
CCS is a technology that is designed to store CO2 safely, drawing on proven technologies that the oil and gas industry has been using for more than fifty years, with some CCS projects having been in operation for around 20 years. Today, according to the Global CCS Institute, there are multiple operational CCS projects around the globe that demonstrate the efficacy of the technology, projects that together can capture and store around 50 million tonnes of CO2 every year.
Instead of CSS, why does Shell not invest more in renewables?
Instead of CSS, why does Shell not invest more in renewables?
Shell has a target to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050. This is a huge task and to reach our target we are actively growing our portfolio of low-carbon energy solutions. We are investing $10-15 billion in low-carbon energy solutions between 2023 and the end of 2025, making us a significant investor in the energy transition.
We are also investing in oil and gas production with lower emissions as we provide energy today, while helping to build the low-carbon energy system of the future.
There is no single solution to achieving net-zero emissions and most climate scientists recognise that CCS will play an important role in the transition of the energy system.
Scenarios by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change show that even when the energy system reaches net-zero emissions, some industrial sectors and end users will be unable to eliminate the use of hydrocarbons and production of CO2. Consequently, carbon emissions that are already in the atmosphere will need to be removed and this can be achieved by CCS.
Is CCS just a way for Shell to justify exploring for more oil and gas?
Is CCS just a way for Shell to justify exploring for more oil and gas?
Is CCS just a way for Shell to justify exploring for more oil and gas?
No, CCS is essential for the world to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement which aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
CCS is also essential for Shell to reach its target to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050. It is helping us to decarbonise our operations and supports our customers as they decarbonise their own operations, including in slower-to-abate sectors such as heavy industry.
The scale and cost of CCS is enormous, so is it realistic?
The scale and cost of CCS is enormous, so is it realistic?
The scale and cost of CCS is enormous, so is it realistic?
CCS can significantly reduce CO2 emissions from power plants and other major industrial processes such as refining, petrochemicals and steelmaking. While cost, coordination and infrastructure hurdles have hindered the pace of CCS deployment, government-led carbon pricing schemes are expanding and raising the cost of emitting CO2. At the same time, governments are introducing policies that encourage investments in CCS and developers are promoting CCS hubs that will provide economies of scale.
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