Carbon Capture Consulting

Arche Energy provides carbon capture consulting services across all of Australia and supports CCS projects in international markets, including Suriname and Latin America. Contact us today for more information.

What our carbon capture consulting covers

Carbon capture consulting at Arche starts with whether capture stacks up against the alternatives, not with which technology to buy. We support clients in assessing carbon capture alongside other emissions reduction pathways.

Arche also helps clients identify the right options that align with their operational, regulatory, and commercial objectives before major investment decisions are made.

Our services include:

capture technology screening
site and geology assessment input
cost and abatement modelling
integration with existing plant
funding and policy pathway assessments.

We work with organisations facing complex emissions reduction challenges, including heavy industry covered by the Safeguard Mechanism, gas producers, cement and steel manufacturers, and project developers assessing carbon capture opportunities.

Carbon capture is rarely assessed in isolation. Our advice considers how carbon capture compares with other opportunities for reduction, and where it may fit within the broader decarbonisation strategy. Carbon capture sits within our wider energy and carbon solutions.

When carbon capture is the right answer

Carbon capture competes with every other tonne of abatement available to a facility, and for most sites it is not the cheapest one.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), carbon capture is particularly relevant for sectors where emissions are difficult to reduce through other decarbonisation measures.

Carbon capture is currently most viable in:

Cement production, where process emissions are difficult to eliminate through other abatement measures.
Steel and other industrial processes, where alternative emissions reduction pathways may be technically limited.
Natural gas processing, where concentrated CO₂ streams can make carbon capture more technically feasible.
Ammonia, ethanol, and chemical production, where CO₂ is produced as part of the industrial process.

Lower-cost abatement options may be available through:

Energy efficiency improvements that reduce energy consumption and associated emissions.
Renewable electricity, particularly where emissions are primarily related to power consumption.
Electrification of equipment and industrial processes currently relying on fossil fuels.
Renewable energy backed by storage, which may provide a more economical pathway than coal or gas generation with carbon capture in some applications.

Before committing to a carbon capture project, organisations may benefit from a carbon and energy reduction review to identify lower-cost emissions reduction opportunities that can be implemented first.

In some situations, organisations may also consider emerging carbon removal pathways as part of a broader long-term decarbonisation strategy.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies

CCS prevents carbon dioxide emissions from entering the Earth’s atmosphere.

The deployment and scalability of CCS technologies can vary, and ongoing research and development of new approaches to carbon capture and storage are continuing to be explored.

Post-combustion capture

Post-combustion captures CO2 from flue gases emitted by power plants and industrial facilities after the combustion of fossil fuels.

It typically involves using solvents or sorbents to capture CO2 from the flue gas stream.

Pre-combustion capture

Pre-combustion capture involves capturing CO2 before fuel is burnt.

It is often used in integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plants, where the fuel is converted into a synthetic gas (syngas) that is rich in hydrogen and CO2.

The CO2 is then separated from the syngas before combustion.

Oxy-fuel combustion

Oxy-fuel combustion involves burning fuel with pure oxygen instead of air, resulting in a flue gas stream predominantly composed of CO2 and water vapour.

The CO2 is captured from the flue gas using various separation methods.

Direct air capture (DAC)

DAC technology captures CO2 directly from the ambient air.

It typically involves using chemical sorbents or filters to capture and concentrate CO2, which can then be stored or utilised.

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) with carbon capture and storage (CCS)

This method involves capturing CO2 emissions from power plants or industrial facilities and using the captured CO2 to enhance the extraction of oil from depleted oil wells.

The captured CO2 is injected into the wells, helping to push the remaining oil to the surface.

The CO2 is then stored permanently underground.

Mineral carbonation

Mineral carbonation involves capturing CO2 and reacting it with certain types of minerals to form stable carbonates.

This can be done naturally, but it can also be accelerated through engineered processes.

Mineral carbonation has the potential to store CO2 for long periods of time.

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS)

BECCS combines the use of biomass energy production with carbon capture and storage. Biomass, such as crops or wood pellets, are burnt to produce energy.

The resulting CO2 emissions are captured and stored, which creates negative emissions by removing CO2 from the atmosphe

Carbon sinks

Carbon can be stored in reservoirs known as carbon sinks. Carbon sinks can be particular types of geological structures, forests, certain types of soils, and wetlands.

Human-made carbon sink technology

Underground locations can have depleted oil and gas reservoirs or deep saline aquifers.

This prevents the CO2 from being released into the atmosphere and contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Forests

Forests are among the most significant natural carbon sinks.

This is because trees absorb CO2 through photosynthesis and store it in their biomass and in the soil as part of a process called terrestrial carbon sequestration.

Wetlands

Wetlands are excellent carbon sinks.

They store large amounts of organic matter in the form of peat, which accumulates over centuries.

Peatlands alone contain twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests combined.

Oceans

Oceans act as a substantial carbon sink.

They absorb CO2 from the atmosphere through a process called oceanic carbon sequestration. The absorbed CO2 dissolves in seawater, forming carbonic acid.

Some of it remains in solution, while some is taken up by marine plants, such as phytoplankton, through photosynthesis.

Soil

Soil can store significant amounts of carbon, especially in organic matter such as plant debris, roots, and microbial biomass.

Agricultural practices, such as conservation tillage, cover cropping, and rotational grazing, can enhance carbon sequestration in soils.

Geologic formations

Certain geologic formations, such as deep saline aquifers and unmineable coal seams, have the capacity to store significant amounts of CO2 underground over long periods of time in a process called geologic carbon sequestration.

Urban green spaces

Urban areas with parks, gardens, and green roofs can act as localised carbon sinks. Vegetation in these spaces absorbs and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Using reclaimed carbon

Reclaimed carbon from emissions can be reused to create saleable products. Projects where we assess the potential for products to be created from reclaimed carbon are called carbon to other products or C2X.

Other than CCS, here are some of the ways that carbon can be reclaimed.

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR)

Reclaimed carbon dioxide can be utilised in the process of enhanced oil recovery. CO2 is injected into depleted oil wells, which helps to extract more oil by reducing its viscosity and improving the displacement of oil towards the wellbore.

Carbon utilisation and recycling

Rather than storing reclaimed CO2 permanently, it can be used as a valuable resource for the production of various products.

Technologies and processes that convert CO2 into useful materials include:

Reclaimed carbon from emissions, specifically CO2, can be used as a feedstock for the production of various products.

Reclaimed carbon products in development

While some of these technologies are still in the early stages of development, here are some potential products that can be made from reclaimed carbon.

Carbon-neutral fuels

CO2 can be converted into carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative fuels through processes like carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) or carbon capture and storage (CCS). For example, CO2 can be combined with hydrogen (often derived from renewable sources) to produce synthetic methane, methanol, or other hydrocarbon fuels. These fuels can be used in transportation or as energy sources with reduced net carbon emissions.

Polymers and plastics

Reclaimed CO2 can serve as a building block for the production of polymers and plastics. CO2 can be transformed into polyols, which are key components in the manufacture of polyurethane foams, coatings, adhesives, and other plastic materials. By incorporating CO2 into these products, it helps to reduce the reliance on fossil fuel-based feedstocks.

Building materials

CO2 can be mineralised by reacting it with certain minerals to form stable carbonates. These carbonates can then be used to produce building materials such as aggregates, bricks, or concrete blocks. Carbonated building materials have the potential to store CO2 permanently while offering strength and durability.

Chemicals and fertilisers

Reclaimed CO2 can be used in the production of various chemicals, including carbonates, formic acid, acetic acid, or even specialty chemicals. Additionally, CO2 can be converted into carbonates and used as a raw material for the manufacturing of fertilisers, providing a sustainable alternative to traditional fertilisers.

Carbonated beverages

Purified CO2 from emissions can be used for carbonation in the beverage industry. It is a common practice to use reclaimed CO2 to create the bubbles in carbonated beverages. It's important to note that while these potential products show promise, their commercial viability and widespread implementation requires further technological advancements, cost reductions, and regulatory support.

FAQs

1. What does a carbon capture consultant do?

A carbon capture consultant helps organisations assess if carbon capture is the right decarbonisation pathway for their operations. This includes technology screening, site and geology assessment input, cost and abatement modelling, integration with existing facilities, and evaluation of regulatory and funding considerations.

2. How much does carbon capture cost per tonne?

Carbon capture costs vary significantly depending on the technology, emissions source, project scale, and storage requirements. For coal and gas power generation, CCS has also been reported as at least six times more expensive than wind power backed by battery storage. Key cost drivers include capturing technology, energy use, transport infrastructure, and storage availability.

3. What is the difference between carbon capture, utilisation and storage?

Carbon capture involves collecting CO₂ before it enters the atmosphere. Carbon utilisation uses captured CO₂ as a feedstock for products such as fuels, chemicals or building materials, while carbon storage involves permanent underground sequestration. Learn more in our sections on carbon sinks and reclaimed carbon products.

4. Does carbon capture count towards Safeguard Mechanism obligations?

Carbon capture and storage can form part of an emissions reduction strategy for facilities covered by the Safeguard Mechanism, where it reduces emissions accounted for under the scheme. The treatment depends on the facility, emissions source, and applicable Safeguard Mechanism rules, so project-specific assessment is required alongside other compliance pathways.

5. Is carbon capture viable for Australian industry?

Carbon capture can be relevant for Australian industries, such as in cement production, steel manufacturing, natural gas processing, and certain chemical industries where emissions are difficult to eliminate through other measures. For facilities with primarily energy-related emissions, lower-cost options may include energy efficiency consulting, electrification and renewable electricity.

6. Is carbon capture viable for industry in Suriname and Latin America?

Carbon capture is one of the options for industries in Suriname and Latin America, particularly where emissions are difficult to reduce through electrification, renewable energy, or energy efficiency alone. CCS is viable in the natural gas processing, cement, steel, and chemicals industry.