Air Pollutant Reductions From Carbon Capture

This report provides a rigorous engineering analysis of the air quality impacts of integrating carbon capture technology on two hard-to-decarbonize industrial processes and finds a significant reduction in health-harming air pollutants along with reductions in carbon pollution.

The analysis in the report involved modeling the impacts on carbon dioxide (CO₂) and criteria air pollutant emissions if carbon capture equipment were installed on the main pollution sources at four relatively high-emitting existing facilities in California and Texas: two fluidized catalytic crackers at petroleum refineries and two cement manufacturing plants. 

The report’s key findings are that: 

• Adding carbon capture could reduce CO₂ emissions and soot (particulate matter) by close to 90% while Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) emissions would be nearly eliminated (99% reduction) from the largest point sources at these facilities.  
• The potential climate and public health benefits achievable through the installation of carbon capture at these facilities are well in excess of the costs of such equipment. 
• Applying carbon capture to other cement plants, catalytic cracking units and other industrial facilities is expected to lower health-harming sulfur dioxide and particulate matter pollution, although the magnitude of reduction will depend on the cleanliness of a facility before the addition of carbon capture.