Carbon Capture

The MIT Press Essential Knowledge

by Howard J. Herzog

A concise overview of carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS), a promising but overlooked climate change mitigation pathway.

The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO2), and these CO2 emissions are a major driver of climate change. Carbon capture offers a path to climate change mitigation that has received relatively little attention. In this volume in the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series, Howard Herzog offers a concise guide to carbon capture, covering basic information as well as the larger context of climate technology and policy. Carbon capture, or carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS), refers to a suite of technologies that reduce CO2 emissions by “capturing” CO2 before it is released into the atmosphere and then transporting it to where it will be stored or used. It is the only climate change mitigation technique that deals directly with fossil fuels rather than providing alternatives to them.

Herzog, a pioneer in carbon capture research, begins by discussing the fundamentals of climate change and how carbon capture can be one of the solutions. He explains capture and storage technologies, including chemical scrubbing and the injection of CO2 deep underground. He reports on current efforts to deploy CCS at factories and power plants and attempts to capture CO2 from the air itself. Finally, he explores the policies and politics in play around CCS and argues for elevating carbon capture in the policy agenda.

Genres: Science, Climate Change, Nonfiction, Technology, Sustainability, Environment

216 pages, Paperback

Published September 11, 2018

About the author

Howard J. Herzog is Senior Research Engineer in the MIT Energy Initiative. He ran an industrial consortium on CCS from 2000 to 2016, served as a US delegate to the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum's Technical Group from 2003 to 2007, and was a Coordinating Lead Author for the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (2005).

Reviews

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fossil fuels have helped humans build the complex societies we rely on today, but it has not come without a cost. The burning of fossil fuels releases CO2 as a waste product. Rising levels of CO2 threaten to make Earth uninhabitable. MIT's Howard Herzog details how humans can go about capturing as much of the CO2 emissions as possible so that it will not be released into the already compromised atmosphere. Carbon can be trapped in forms such as rock and then buried underground. This process mimics the natural process of how fossil fuels themselves are made. If humans can bury CO2, they can keep levels in the atmosphere lower, oxygen levels higher, and hopefully stave off catastrophic climate change. 

Carbon capture should be particularly attractive to people who want to maximize the growth of corporations that depend on fossil fuels but also want to take steps to protect the climate. The thing I hope for is that policies that attempt to address the climate crisis will be implemented around the globe. I recall reading about how when expensive carbon filters were required in the USA, companies simply outsourced the generation of their products to countries that did not require their companies to use filters. This led to pollution in other parts of the globe that were picked up by clouds and winds and spread far and wide. It won't be good enough to implement the practices outlined by Herzog if those practices are not adopted globally. 

This is definitely research I will follow.  

[Catherine Parry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a real page turner, I’m telling you. Super riveting stuff. I’m just kidding, but in all seriousness this was an awesome read about carbon capture. If one is interested in the subject matter this book comes highly recommended. It was enjoyable to read and while very informative, also easy to digest.

[Juan Delfino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorough yet easy to digest understanding of Carbon Capture tech

I’ve been trying to get a better understanding of climate change as well as potential ways of addressing it. As a firm believer in the power of innovation, I wanted to have a better grasp on carbon capture as a contributor to the overall climate solution.

At first, I was concerned this book would be way to difficult to read (as something from MIT can be intimidating) but I could not have been more wrong. The book does a fantastic job at explaining everything in a very simple way. It provides a comprehensive framework of carbon capture and negative emission technologies as well as the politics surrounding them. Concluding with a well balanced outlook of what’s to come.

I highly recommend it to anyone looking to understand climate change better. And I will also be checking out the rest of MIT press essentials. Loved it.

[A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book by an expert and leader in the field. Probably worth another read to get all the nuance and details for better understanding!

[Vikas Khaitan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very concise, expertly written, easy to understand and a complete discussion on Carbon Capture & Storage. The discussion ranges from the background and overview, technical explanation of the technologies for both carbon capture and storage, some real-life examples and finally the policies and the politics of it all and the relation to climate change. I would recommend this to anyone currently in the energy industry and anybody who wants to inform themselves of this important part of solving the climate emergency. This pocket-size book is easy to hold (important for me) and can be read almost in an evening or weekend. Really enjoyed reading the book and now feel as if I fully understand where the technology, industry and governments stand on Carbon Capture.

[Nuno Rocha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A concise and comprehensive overview of the carbon capture landscape, encompassing current and developing technologies, on-going and planned projects. Presents a thorough comparison with other technologies for carbon removal and mitigation strategies, in particular renewable resources.
The book is well written and the pace is just right to allow easy following while presenting a vast amount of information.
Highly recommend if you’re looking at a fresh perspective at carbon mitigation.

[Kathleen Connolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exhaustive look at carbon capture methods and technologies. Highly informative for those who seek a crash-course overview of this topic. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to read. The book uses extensive acronyms, so be prepared to create your own "cheat sheet" and keep it nearby.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful book about ways humanity could capture carbon, either from the source or from the atmosphere. I believe every politician should read this book and expand their knowledge on what we could do to help fight climate change.

[Jesus Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great information "sink" of the carbon capture techniques, why we use them, why we don't use them and possibilites into the future

I enjoyed reading a medium length review of what an expert has to say

[Anna Y · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the middle portions are too dense for me but there were a lot of good context on carbon capture and how it can be implemented through policy. I finished the book feeling like I had a complete picture on what carbon capture is and how it can help us mitigate climate change.

[Duane Tilden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great overview of the state of Carbon Capture development and the various processes involved as well as their application.

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good technical overview, if anyone wants to read it I'd be happy to lend it. Technical parts are good. The policy and politics sections aren't as good but that's understandable.

[Bert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive overview of what works and what does not in reducing CO2 emissions.

[Katsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple overview of the entire CCS chain

[Kristinn Hróbjartsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly technical but interesting and covers the area well. A bit dated I would assume, but that's OK.

[Reece Kenney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super informative. Explains a lot about all aspects of carbon capture.

[Oren Mizrahi · Rating 5 out of 5]

depressing

[Ethan J · Rating 4 out of 5]

short little introductory book.
Was good to read and broaden my horizon.
* carbon storage is interesting
* geoengineering is also crazy as fuck

[Deb Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really opened my eyes to Carbon Capture and the state of our climate situation. Easy to read, a lot of science and acronyms, but still worth the read.

[Bram · Rating 1 out of 5]

With all the abbreviations and convoluted language the neoliberal ideology is almost lost.

[Bryce Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, I now have a very pragmatic understanding of CCS. Time to pump the earth full of CO2 baby!

[Olivia A · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was very informative. i enjoyed it. i think it could occasionally get a little dull but WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE CLIMATE AND THIS ACTUALLY GAVE US REAL THOUGHTS

[William Bumcum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative book written by an expert in the field. I learned a lot about Carbon Capture technologies, and the barriers from making it main stream. The author has a skill of teaching the concept in layman's terms getting the reader acquainted with the basics of the concept.

[Simon Prince · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit technical, but I did learn a lot