Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) in the coastal and marine environment refers to activities designed to capture carbon dioxide emissions from industrial activities, power plants, or natural processes and store it in geological formations beneath the seafloor. The objective is to prevent carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, reducing greenhouse gas concentrations and mitigating climate change.
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Environmental considerations for CCS activities include careful site selection and evaluation, regulatory and permitting requirements, and environmental and social impact assessments to identify potential impacts and mitigation measures. International agreements, such as the London Protocol, can offer guidelines on CCS activities in marine environments.
Carbon capture in the coastal and marine environment offers viable opportunities to sequester carbon to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. Industry operators, regulatory agencies, and academic institutions are actively developing plans, regulations, and specialized studies for CCS activities.
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CSA’s expertise in marine science and operations enable our team to address the key elements in international guidance for CCS.
- Risk Assessment and Management – Requiring CCS project designs undergo thorough risk assessments, particularly regarding storage site characteristics, prevention of leaks, and response to incidents are key components of the design, development, and implementation of CCS projects.
- Monitoring and Verification – As with all projects in the coastal and marine environment, monitoring is a crucial component. Monitoring and response to potential escape of carbon dioxide from subsea storage sites are challenges both technically and operationally that can be addressed with both traditional and innovative techniques.
- Regulatory Frameworks – Governments are encouraged to develop clear, transparent regulatory systems for permitting, monitoring, and decommissioning of CCS sites. Understanding and addressing regulatory requirements of CCS projects is essential to project permitting and approval.
- Public Engagement and Awareness – International guidance emphasizes the importance of public education and awareness of CCS technology. Public engagement is a key component of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments.
- Environmental Protection – Regulatory frameworks and international best practices for prevention, mitigation, incident response, and restoration in coastal and marine environments are valid for CCS projects owing to the potential for carbon dioxide to escape from the storage site into the surrounding environment.
CSA’s scientists and operations specialists are actively engaged in the design, development, permitting, and operation of CCS activities in coastal and marine environments. Our role in CCS is consistent with our services to offshore energy clients and projects, including environmental baseline studies and impact assessments. Read a summary of CSA’s recent project for Gigablue in the Eastern Mediterranean, and stay tuned for updates on new projects and technical capabilities in this emerging field.
