Development of CCUS Technology in the Context of Carbon Neutrality and Assessment of the Potential for Offshore Storage in Guangdong Province

  Introduction  Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) is one of the key technologies for achieving carbon neutrality. The coastal area of Guangdong Province is a potential area for offshore CO₂ storage projects in China. Understanding the development status of CCUS technology in the context of carbon neutrality and analyzing the offshore CO₂ storage potential in the coastal area of Guangdong Province are conducive to provide the basis for large-scale CCUS projects, especially the offshore storage projects in the future in China.

  Method  The technical routes and development trends of all aspects of CCUS were summarized. The offshore geological storage potential of CO₂ in the Pearl River Mouth Basin and the Beibu Gulf Basin off the coast of Guangdong Province was discussed. The problems of offshore CO₂ storage in China were summarized, and relevant suggestions were put forward.

  Result  In recent years, China has made significant progress in CCUS technology, but some key technologies in transportation and storage has been still at the R&D demonstration stage. The Pearl River Mouth Basin and the Beibu Gulf Basin have enormous geological storage potential of CO₂ and an excellent matching relationship with large CO₂ emission sources in the coastal area of Guangdong Province, making it an ideal locations for offshore CO₂ storage projects. However, offshore CO₂ storage still faces problems such as immature technology, high storage costs, uncertain environmental impacts, and inadequate policy and regulation frameworks in China. It is necessary to focus on technological development, promoting cluster projects, and improving policies and relevant regulations to advance the development of offshore CO₂ storage.

  Conclusion  In the future, China should strengthen research, development and promotion of CCUS, especially the offshore storage technology, to promote the progress of carbon neutrality.