CCUS Economics & Implementation
Calculate project costs and explore real-world CCUS deployment strategies
Your Progress
Section 5 of 5Making CCUS Economically Viable
CCUS economics are simple: costs are real, immediate, and measurable ($40-150/t); revenues depend entirely on policy. Without carbon pricing, tax credits, or compliance mandates, CCUS loses money on every tonne. The US 45Q tax credit ($85/t for storage, $60/t for utilization) has unlocked 100+ projects. Europe's ETS ($80-100/t) and CBAM (carbon border adjustment) are driving industrial CCUS. But policy alone isn't enough—projects need low-cost CO₂ sources, transport infrastructure, storage permits, and long-term revenue certainty. First movers prioritize pure CO₂ streams (ammonia, ethanol—$15-25/t capture), industrial hubs with shared infrastructure (Rotterdam, Houston, Teesside), and jurisdictions with strong carbon policy. The 2020s are about proving commercial models; the 2030s must be about exponential scale-up.
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Net Economics
This project generates net revenue and could proceed without subsidies.
Key Takeaways
🎯 Strategic Priorities
- •Target pure streams first: Ammonia, ethanol, hydrogen—lowest cost
- •Build industrial hubs: Shared infrastructure cuts costs 30-50%
- •Secure long-term policy: 10+ year revenue certainty essential
- •Combine CCS + CCU: Utilization revenue reduces net cost
📊 Technology Maturity
- •Commercial today: Post-combustion, EOR, urea, concrete curing
- •Demonstration scale: Pre-combustion, oxy-combustion, DAC
- •Early stage: E-fuels, CO₂-polymers, mineralization at scale
- •Storage proven: 30+ years, 40 Mt/year, 99.9%+ containment
⚠️ Implementation Barriers
- •Policy uncertainty: Carbon price volatility kills investment
- •Infrastructure gaps: CO₂ pipelines need $100B+ investment
- •Permitting delays: Storage site approval takes 3-7 years
- •Public acceptance: Education and engagement critical
🚀 2030 Targets
- •IEA Net Zero: 1.7 Gt CO₂/year captured (45x scale-up)
- •Project pipeline: 450+ facilities announced worldwide
- •Cost reduction: Target $40-60/t all-in for post-combustion
- •Geographic spread: Must expand beyond US, Norway, Australia
💡 Final Insight
CCUS is not a silver bullet—it's a critical tool for hard-to-abate sectors (steel, cement, chemicals) where alternatives don't exist. Success requires: 1) Strong, sustained carbon pricing, 2) Industrial cluster development, 3) Shared CO₂ transport networks, 4) Streamlined storage permitting, 5) Technology innovation (lower costs, higher efficiency). Think of CCUS as essential infrastructure for net-zero, not optional.
Module Complete!
You've mastered CCUS technologies, economics, and implementation strategies