Capturing Carbon

This Technical Paper explores the status and potential of carbon capture and storage (CCS), carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies and their roles alongside renewables in the deep decarbonisation of energy systems.

The paper summarises the status of these technologies in terms of current deployment and costs, potential future roles, and the challenges and prospects for scaling-up their use in the context of the 1.5°C climate change goal and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

The main report provides an overview of these topics whilst the annexes provide additional resources and more detailed background information, including a discussion of key components, and tables presenting information on existing and planned projects.

This Technical Paper complements and builds upon the broader discussions on the energy transition in other recent IRENA reports, including the World Energy Transitions Outlook and Reaching Zero with Renewable