The Role of CCUS in Achieving Net-Zero Emissions

From policymakers to educators, concern over climate impacts persists nationwide. In 2024 alone, the U.S. experienced 27 weather and climate disasters, resulting in $182 billion in damages and nearly 600 American deaths. Furthermore, long-term exposure to certain air pollution – especially in densely populated urban areas – has been strongly linked to an increased incidence of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Because of the serious risks industrial emissions pose, recent Environmental Protection Agency priorities and many private companies and nonprofits are striving for the goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, a point where emissions produced are balanced by those removed from the atmosphere. An essential component to reaching this goal is Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), a series of technologies that can capture carbon dioxide from sources like power plants and industrial sites, reuse it in various industries, and store the remainder deep underground.

Some may wonder why we would not simply switch to energy sources that do not produce any carbon emissions. Currently, we do not have the ability to completely switch to renewable and clean energy and abandon fossil fuels entirely. The reality is that, as of now, our transportation, agriculture, and power systems remain deeply reliant on hydrocarbons. A sudden and total transition would cause major economic and social disruptions, but CCUS offers a more practical, longer-term strategy to slowly transition to using clean energy.

Currently, 50 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions come from power and industry. Point Source Carbon Capture is a common starting point for CCUS projects, where carbon dioxide emissions are captured directly from these highly concentrated emission areas, like power plants or industrial buildings. From there, CO₂ is transported to various sectors that have use for it or stored in a Class VI well, a long-term storage option for CO₂. CCUS projects will not achieve net zero emissions alone and must be used alongside other strategies and emission-reducing technology. Utilizing both low carbon and carbon capture strategies is crucial in this stage as we transition to more sustainable energy methods.

There are currently many innovative utilization strategies for captured carbon. CarbonCure Technologies injects CO₂ into fresh concrete to promote carbon mineralization, which not only makes the concrete significantly stronger and more durable but also permanently stores the CO₂. With concrete being the most used building material, CO₂ injection into concrete will open doors for an abundance of economic and job opportunities.

Through a process known as gas fermentation, LanzaTech uses specialized bacteria to transform carbon emissions into valuable chemicals and fuels. Through this, CO₂ has been utilized to create many essential chemicals such as acetone, which we can see in disinfectants and cleaning products, and even monoethylene glycol, essential to creating polyester, which is widely used in the clothing industry and plastics.

One of the most reliable ways to store CO₂ is by injecting the emissions deep underground by utilizing Class VI wells. The EPA created the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Building and using a Class VI well is a lengthy, multi-phase process designed to ensure safety. The development process includes the pre-permitting, pre-construction, and pre-operational stages, followed by injection and post-injection periods. Obtaining a permit alone may take three to six years. The injection phase typically lasts 10 to 20 years, and the post-injection monitoring phase can extend up to 50 years. Strict guidelines, extensive technical reviews, and various precautions ensure the safety of storing CO₂ to protect drinking water and the general public. While this level of precaution results in additional cost and duration for projects, this remains the minimum regulation needed to ensure security in the long-term storage of carbon emissions.

While a common concern around CCUS is whether it is too expensive, various studies have indicated otherwise. These projects can cost billions of dollars and last decades, but it’s important to understand the cost of inaction or the tradeoffs. Right now, according to research done by Harvard University, the average CCUS project costs between $8 and $133 per ton, depending on the industry and technology used. These estimates include the capturing of carbon emissions, transportation, and utilization, as well as storage. To compare that to the cost of carbon emissions, the EPA has found that economic damages linked to carbon emissions can be as high as $210 per ton. So, although the cost of CCUS is high, the cost of doing nothing may be even greater.

CCUS is not a future concept; it is an established and actively supported strategy for reducing carbon emissions. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $131 million in federal funding towards CCUS. By 2050, it is estimated that CCUS will have produced over $1 trillion in revenue and nearly 3,000 new jobs.

However, recent policy decisions present challenges to the growth of CCUS. In May 2025, the federal government canceled approximately $3.7 billion in funding previously allocated to CCUS projects, raising concerns about the impact on ongoing and future efforts to reduce carbon emissions. This significant funding cut poses a setback for CCUS progress and underscores the importance of sustained attention to advancing these efforts.

To reach net-zero emissions by 2050, CCUS proves to be an impactful strategy to achieve this goal. While CCUS has a lot of potential for positive change, it should not be forgotten that this is not a standalone solution, but will only succeed alongside other efforts to help reduce emissions. With a tremendous amount of research being put into this, many technologies and strategies for CCUS are being developed. Understanding where CCUS fits into climate and conservation helps foster realistic and science-based conversations about our future. Supporting such innovation efforts through awareness and policy is crucial to the long-term success of reducing emissions.

Written by Joyce Ogola, Public Policy Intern