Climate change due to increased greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide (CO2), has become a global concern, with fossil fuel combustion as one of the main contributors accounting for about 56% of total global emissions. Of this amount, coal-fired steam power plants are the largest contributor with more than 60%, followed by gas power plants at 11% and diesel power plants at 7%. To reduce the rate of climate change, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies are strategic solutions in reducing CO2 emissions by capturing exhaust gases from power plants and industries before they are released into the atmosphere. CCS focuses on storing CO2 in underground geological formations, while CCUS enables CO2 utilization in various industries, such as synthetic fuel production and enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The implementation of CCS and CCUS is crucial in supporting the transition to clean energy, especially for sectors that are difficult to switch to renewable energy in a short period of time, so as to significantly reduce carbon emissions without abruptly stopping industrial and power plant operations.
Definition
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) are technologies designed to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) generated from industrial processes or fossil fuel combustion, prevent it from being released into the atmosphere, and store it safely. The main difference between CCS and CCUS is that CCUS includes an additional step, which is the utilization of the captured CO2 for beneficial applications. Carbon capture storage (CCS) and carbon capture utilization storage (CCUS) consist of three main technologies: pre-combustion, post-combustion, and oxyfuel combustion (Osman et al., 2020).
How it Works
Pre-combustion involves the reaction of fuel with air or oxygen to produce synthetic gas (syngas), which is then further processed to separate CO2. This technology has high efficiency, but requires additional energy for reforming and air separation. Post-combustion captures CO2 from the flue gas after combustion using solvents such as monoethanolamine, although these solvents require significant regeneration energy. Meanwhile, oxyfuel combustion burns fuel with pure oxygen, resulting in concentrated emissions and making CO2 capture easier, although oxygen separation is very expensive.
Once the CO2 is captured, it is compressed and transported to a storage location such as a geological formation or saline aquifer. CCUS adds a utilization step, where CO2 can be used in industrial applications, such as enhanced oil recovery (EOR), chemical production, or district cooling.
Benefits Delivered
(Source: Global CCS Institute)
To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, CCS and CCUS technologies are essential. The energy and heavy industry sectors can decarbonize by using CCS and CCUS, potentially reducing CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050. These technologies provide a strategic approach to mitigating climate change, despite the fact that the worlds CO2 emissions reach more than 32 billion tons per year, while the current contribution of CO2 utilization is less than 200 million tons.
The study conducted by Cuéllar-Franca & Azapagic (2014) shows that the global warming potential of power plants can be reduced by 63–82% if CCS is implemented. For CCUS, the global warming potential varies greatly depending on the utilization option. Mineral carbonation can reduce the global warming potential by 4–48% compared to no CCUS. If CO2 is utilized for chemical production, especially for dimethyl carbonate (DMC) production, the global warming potential can be reduced by 4.3 times and prevent ozone layer depletion by 13 times, compared to conventional DMC production. Meanwhile, utilization for enhanced oil recovery has a global warming potential 2.3 times lower than discharging CO2 into the atmosphere.
Similar research was also conducted by Prasetyo & Windarta (2022) who predicted that the application of CCS could significantly reduce CO2 emissions, by 6% in 2025 and 37% in 2050. These estimates are based on assumptions of carbon capture technologies to be applied to point sources of CO2 (industrial facilities, power plants, and manufacturing) and consider CCS capacity and efficiency, including the potential for CCS implementation in Indonesia.
Obstacles Faced
There are several key challenges to CCS implementation, including high costs, technical difficulties, limited storage capacity and strict regulations. There are also concerns about possible carbon leakage from underground storage. CCS itself is an expensive technology and requires adequate infrastructure, which companies are reluctant to invest in without additional incentives from the government. The infrastructure required includes the creation of specialized pipelines for the delivery of large volumes of CO2 gas to storage sites, which are often located in remote areas, and integration with existing power plants and industrial facilities. Geological storage capacity is also limited and not all sites are eligible for long-term storage, which requires extensive research and assessment before use (Solartron ISA, n.d.).
(Source: Xinhua)
In addition to implementation challenges, CO2 also has negative impacts on the various materials used in the CCS process. One of the main impacts is corrosion, where CO2 reacting with water can form carbonic acid which then damages pipes and metal components, especially those made from carbon steel and copper alloys. In addition to corrosion, CO2 also causes degradation of materials such as rubber and polymers, reducing their mechanical strength and durability. Scale or mineral deposits can also form when CO2 dissolves in water and reacts with minerals, which can reduce equipment efficiency and increase maintenance costs. In addition, CO2 can cause embrittlement or brittleness in some materials, especially polymers and elastomers, making them more susceptible to cracking or breaking under stress. Understanding and addressing these impacts is therefore an important aspect of maintaining safe and efficient CCS operations (Solartron ISA, n.d.).
What about Indonesia?
Indonesia still relies heavily on fossil fuels to meet its energy needs, leading to high carbon emissions. The government has shown its commitment by issuing Presidential Regulation No. 98/2021, which encourages the implementation of CCS to achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. In addition, Indonesia has just issued Presidential Regulation No. 14 Year 2024 on the Implementation of Carbon Capture and Storage Activities (Penyelenggaraan Kegiatan Penangkapan dan Penyimpanan Karbon), which provides a clearer legal framework for the implementation of CCS technology.
In recent years, Indonesia has established partnerships with international organizations and investors to accelerate CCS implementation. This collaboration aims to improve understanding and capacity in applying the technology, as well as building the necessary infrastructure. With support from the global community, Indonesia seeks to accelerate CCS development as part of a more sustainable energy transition. Presidential Regulation No. 14 Year 2024 also includes rules on CCS Permit Areas and Injection Target Zones, which will form the basis of the CCS licensing and monitoring process in Indonesia.
The government needs to explore various funding mechanisms and provide financial incentives to attract investors. Public engagement is also important, as public acceptance of CCS will determine its successful implementation. Information transparency and good communication are needed to address social and environmental concerns that may arise. Presidential Regulation No. 14 Year 2024 also emphasizes the importance of monitoring and mitigating the risk of carbon leakage, which is a crucial aspect in maintaining environmental security and sustainability.
On the other hand, great opportunities remain for Indonesia in developing CCS, given its geographical advantages with geological formations suitable for carbon storage. In addition to contributing to global climate goals, CCS also has the potential to create jobs, attract foreign investment and drive green technology innovation. With strategic steps and strong collaboration, Indonesia can position itself as a leader in sustainable technology and play an active role in global efforts to address climate change. The issuance of Presidential Regulation No. 14 Year 2024 is a concrete step in accelerating CCS implementation and demonstrates the governments commitment to achieving the Net Zero Emission target by 2060 or sooner.
(Source: tvOnenews)
For example, Pertamina and ExxonMobil have collaborated on the development of CCS in the Java Sea as part of efforts to accelerate the energy transition and reduce carbon emissions. With an investment value of more than USD 2 billion, this project has a carbon storage capacity of up to 3 gigatons of CO2. This agreement was strengthened through the signing of the Amendment to the Principles of Agreement at the G20 event in November 2022, which became an important milestone in building the CCS ecosystem in Indonesia (Anam, 2023).
Under this agreement, Pertamina and ExxonMobil agreed to evaluate CCS Hubs in the Asri Basin (Cekungan Asri) and Sunda Basin (Cekungan Sunda), located in the western part of the Java Sea. With large geological storage potential, the project is expected to capture and inject CO2 from domestic and regional industries, while strengthening Indonesias position as a leader in emissions reduction in Southeast Asia. The project not only serves as an environmental solution, but also opens investment opportunities and creates jobs for the people of Indonesia. This agreement is part of the governments efforts to build a strong CCS ecosystem. The success of this project proves Indonesias readiness to utilize CCS technology to support low-carbon industries and increase investment attractiveness in the sustainable energy sector.
(Sumber: Pertamina)
Following up on its partnership with ExxonMobil, Pertamina is expanding its cooperation with Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC) to further strengthen CCS development in the Southeast Asia region. The three companies signed the Framework Agreement at the IPA Convention & Exhibition 2024 which took place at ICE BSD City on May 15, 2024 (Pertamina, 2024).
In this cooperation, Pertamina acts as a carbon storage location provider, utilizing the existing geological capacity in its concession area. KNOC will act as the user of the CCS storage facility, while ExxonMobil is responsible for developing the CCS technology that will be used in this project. Deputy for Coordination of Maritime Sovereignty and Energy, Jodi Mahardi, stated that this agreement is still in its early stages, with the main focus on the study of carbon storage capacity in the Asri Basin and Sunda Basin, as well as the development of supporting infrastructure.
Pertaminas President Director, Nicke Widyawati, explained that this CCS project will adopt a service concept that includes carbon capture, transportation and injection into geological reservoirs. With this CCS Hub, Indonesia has the potential to store large amounts of CO2 in saline aquifers, which can accommodate at least 3 gigatons of CO2 from domestic and regional carbon-intensive industries.
Furthermore, Senior Vice President of ExxonMobil Corporation, Jack P. Williams, emphasized that this project not only aims to reduce carbon emissions, but also to boost economic growth in Indonesia and the entire Southeast Asia region. With the support of cutting-edge technology, the CCS Hub is expected to become the largest carbon storage center in the Southeast Asia region, while strengthening the decarbonization ecosystem of the energy industry.
As the largest energy company in Indonesia, Pertamina continues to demonstrate its leadership in the implementation of low-carbon technology. With the development of the CCS Hub in the Java Sea, Pertamina not only contributes to reducing large-scale industrial emissions, but also further accelerates the achievement of the Net Zero Emission 2060 target. This initiative is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the implementation of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG), which are the main pillars of its business strategy. Through the partnership with ExxonMobil and KNOC, Pertamina further affirms its role as a key driver of the energy transition in Southeast Asia, while strengthening Indonesias position as a CCS hub in the region.