Breaking the Innovation Bottleneck in Carbon Capture: Insights from Industry Experts

Despite CCUS being recognized as crucial to the decarbonization strategies of industries like oil and gas, chemicals, and mining, many remain skeptical about its scalability. Nearly half of the survey’s respondents were unsure whether CCUS would become more cost-effective than paying a carbon tax.

The primary concerns? High upfront costs, maintenance, energy consumption, and the overall complexity of integrating these systems, with carbon capture being the costliest phase of the CCUS process. These challenges are especially relevant as industries transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies, where carbon capture must adapt to new operational requirements. 

One of the most revealing findings of the survey is the lack of “winning” technology in the Carbon Capture space. While a variety of technologies are available, no single approach has emerged as the dominant solution. The carbon capture industry is still reinventing itself to deliver effective, affordable, easy-to-implement, and scalable carbon capture solutions to end-users. This highlights the need for continued innovation in key areas, particularly in the development of sorbent technologies—the materials responsible for capturing carbon.

Sorbent materials are pivotal in determining the performance and cost-effectiveness of carbon capture systems. The survey highlighted that innovation in this area could have a significant impact on the entire CCUS value chain. Importantly, OEMs are willing to pay more for better-performing sorbents, recognizing that adopting a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) approach is essential to long-term success.  
The focus on solid sorbents is especially promising, as these materials can be engineered for improved selectivity and durability, ultimately enhancing the efficiency of carbon capture in hard-to-abate industries.

The future of carbon capture lies in breakthrough materials. Reticular materials such as MOF (Metal Organic Framework) and COF (Covalent Organic Framework) Technologies offer the potential for transformative advancements, particularly in the capture stage, which is the most expensive part of the CCUS process. These materials could drastically reduce the energy required for carbon capture applications, making the technology more scalable and efficient.

While the CCUS industry is still maturing, the findings from this survey provide hope. With continued innovation and investment, particularly in solid sorbent technology, we can break through the bottlenecks currently holding back carbon capture solutions. The next few years will be crucial in determining the speed at which solid-state carbon capture can scale to the levels necessary to meet global climate goals.

By focusing on improving efficiency, reducing costs, and embracing next-generation materials, the CCUS sector is poised to play a pivotal role in decarbonizing the hardest-to-abate industries. The road ahead is challenging, but with the right innovations such as solid-state CO₂ capture, we can make scalable carbon capture a reality. 

Atoco is a leader in climate technology, founded by Professor Omar Yaghi, the pioneer of Reticular Chemistry. Atoco leverages reticular materials such as Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and Covalent Organic Frameworks (COFs) to develop breakthrough solutions for carbon capture and atmospheric water harvesting. These technologies, designed with atomic precision, are engineered to tackle global and most pressing challenges: climate change and water scarcity. 

Atoco’s solid-state carbon capture technology, including solid-state PCC (Post-Combustion Carbon Capture) and solid-state DAC (Direct Air Capture) modules, tackles the challenges of post-combustion and DAC by using highly efficient reticular materials. This approach allows for reduced energy consumption and scalable deployment across industries, making it a vital tool in addressing global carbon emissions and the fight against climate change.