The aviation, cement, and steel sectors are some of the areas where captured CO2 could be transformed into an energy opportunity, closing the carbon cycle instead of releasing it into the atmosphere. This trend is reflected in recent projects, which stand out for both their innovation and their increasing economic viability.
Research in Chile to convert CO2 into fuel
In Chile, a research team at the Catholic University is developing a project to produce sustainable fuels from CO2 and green hydrogen. The initiative has two lines of work: capturing CO2 for its subsequent conversion into high-value fuels and producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) through the gasification of organic waste.
Researchers assert that this process allows for closing the carbon cycle instead of increasing its concentration in the atmosphere. Furthermore, the project is designed to be scaled up industrially, taking advantage of Chile's favorable conditions for renewable energy generation, such as solar radiation in the Atacama Desert and strong winds in the Magallanes region.
According to experts, synthetic fuel produced from CO2 and green hydrogen is a highly viable option for aviation, a sector that cannot be electrified in the short or medium term and that depends on high-energy-density fuels. A regional study by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has already identified Chile as a country with great potential in this area.
Brazil approves a decree for CO2 storage
In Brazil, the government has signed a decree establishing the conditions for carbon capture, storage, and transmission (CCS/CCUS) activities. The measure, which includes technological pathways such as BECCS and DACCS, represents progress in providing a legal framework for these projects.
However, legal experts warn that regulatory bottlenecks still need to be resolved. The operator's perpetual liability after the warehouse closes, the lack of a transfer of responsibility to the State (as is the case in the European Union), and the necessary regulation of the National Port Authority (ANP) are some of the issues that create uncertainty and increase investment costs.
Even so, the recognition of geological CO2 storage as a climate mitigation activity is a highly valued step forward. Compared to nature-based solutions, such as reforestation, geological storage offers advantages in terms of carbon permanence and measurement. The sectors that will benefit most are cement, steel, chemicals, and oil and gas, where electrification cannot completely eliminate emissions.
The industry is adapting for carbon capture
Interest in CO2 is not exclusive to Latin America. In Dutch greenhouse horticulture, a company has developed a modular system that allows growers to capture CO2 from their own cogeneration units. In the province of South Holland, a tomato grower has installed a system that captures approximately 80% of the CO2 from his cogeneration, thus making use of a resource that was previously wasted.
This technology, based on an amine absorption process, allows CO2 to be stored in tanks and used to fertilize crops. The business model has been key to the project's success , as CO2 is an increasingly scarce and expensive resource in the food industry. The company responsible for the system has already announced plans to expand the technology to other projects, including those related to geothermal energy and CO2 liquefaction.
Another alternative that has attracted attention is the use of biochar, a material produced from organic waste. In Spain, some companies are already developing pyrolysis processes to convert olive pits into biochar, a material capable of retaining CO2 and improving soil fertility, demonstrating that CO2 capture also has applications in the agricultural sector.
In summary, carbon capture is becoming a key tool for reducing emissions in sectors that are difficult to decarbonize. Positive news is coming from around the world, from industrial projects in Brazil to innovative research in Chile, reflecting a global trend toward productive uses for CO2. The technology is maturing , and regulations are beginning to keep pace, suggesting that in the coming years it will be a key pillar of the energy transition and climate change mitigation.
