In the quest to limit the carbon emissions of industries, carbon capture has emerged as a pioneering technology, reinforcing the net-zero goals of the country. Reducing the carbon footprint of the sectors is essential amidst the surging menace of global warming and erratic climate conditions. Where significant steps have been taken to reduce the emissions of the automotive sector with the introduction of EVs, decarbonizing the heavy industries comes with a lot of challenges.
Industries such as cement, power, steel, chemical manufacturing, to name a few, are involved in carrying out complex operations that are responsible for releasing humongous amounts of greenhouse gases (GHG). As a result, the sectors have a deteriorating effect on the environment, where the GHGs invariably compound the issue of pollution, leading to an extreme rise in temperatures culminating in unpredictable weather patterns. This necessitates the deployment of carbon capture technology across the sectors to trap the carbon dioxide generated at the source itself. Coming in handy for reducing GHG, the technology mitigates the carbon footprint of heavy industries, playing a pivotal role in abating the risk of climate change threatening the earth and humankind.
Elaborating on the same, the carbon capture technology is of two types, Direct Air Capture (DAC) and post-combustion carbon capture (PCC), depending on the application. Where Direct Air Capture is preferred for residential space, post-combustion carbon capture comes with the proficiency to decarbonize heavy industries. The PCC technology conducts the extraction of carbon dioxide from the flue gas, which is later separated from the flue gas with the help of chemical solvents during the scrubbing stage. The entire process involves a multi-pronged approach comprising pre-treatment, carbon dioxide adsorption, and regeneration stages to collect carbon dioxide from the polluted air.
Where removal of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, fine particles, aerosols, and moisture is performed at the pre-treatment stage, the adsorption process plays a crucial role in extracting carbon by employing honeycomb filter. To maximize the output, customizable honeycomb structures should be integrated into the module design of CO2 capture equipment. Here, incorporating Bry-Air contractors/honeycomb structures comes with the added advantage of adjustment to any shape. It makes use of novel materials as adsorbents which is a game changer in optimizing the performance of carbon capture technology. The entire process of capturing the carbon dioxide is then followed by compression and purification to enable its storage.
Understanding the mechanism of the technology, industries can immensely benefit from PCC as it facilitates their compliance with carbon emission limitations outlined by the government. This goes a long way in ensuring the businesses are free from any penalties or legal action arising from the inability to meet the target. Moreover, considering that heavy industries are an integral part of the economy, carbon capture enables the coexistence of the development of the sector and the protection of the environment at the same time.
Incorporating carbon capture technology can further open the gateway for the companies to leverage carbon credits. Providing economic incentives, it boosts the prospects of economic stewardship by encouraging investment in more advanced and cleaner technologies to decarbonize the sectors. At the same time, it goes a long way in fostering a circular economy by empowering the manufacturing of value-added products such as green urea, green hydrogen, and many more products.
Therefore, looking at the wide gamut of advantages of carbon capture technology, it is high time that the adoption of advanced technology is encouraged across industries. Moreover, significant steps towards innovation and upgradation of the technology can further contribute to the decarbonizing efforts of the industries at the same time.
