USA, Texas, Houston: ExxonMobil has proposed a large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) hub along the Houston Ship Channel, in what could become one of the most significant climate infrastructure projects in the United States.
Announced on 19 April 2021, the concept outlines an “Innovation Zone” designed as a shared, multi-user system. CO2 emissions from petrochemical plants, industrial facilities and power generation sites would be collected and transported via pipelines, then injected deep underground into geological formations beneath the Gulf of Mexico for permanent storage.
The company estimates the project would require at least $100 B in combined public and private investment.
Early projections suggest the hub could store around 50 million metric tonnes of CO2 annually by 2030, increasing to 100 million tonnes per year by 2040. This compares with current US carbon capture levels of roughly 13 million tonnes per year.
ExxonMobil says Houston is well suited for the project due to its dense concentration of industrial emitters, established energy infrastructure, and access to significant offshore storage capacity. The Gulf Coast region is estimated to have the potential to store hundreds of billions of tonnes of CO2 in suitable geological formations.
The company also stresses that the project would require strong policy backing, including a clear regulatory framework, investment incentives, and carbon pricing to attract large-scale private capital.
If developed, the Houston hub could become a model for similar CCS projects in other industrial regions across the United States.
Source: Energies Media
