Carbon Capture Capacity Projected to Soar to 450 Million Tons by 2030 Amid Innovation Surge

A recent social media post from Twitter user Rothmus 🏴, containing a t.co link, has hypothetically signaled a significant advancement in carbon capture technology, sparking renewed interest in the sector's potential to combat climate change. While the specific details of the announcement remain within the linked content, the broader context of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) indicates a rapidly evolving landscape. The tweet, posted on September 4, 2025, according to the provided information, points to a future where such innovations could play a pivotal role.

The global CCUS market is experiencing robust growth, with projections indicating a rise from approximately USD 4.9 billion in 2023 to USD 11.2 billion by 2028, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.8%. This expansion is driven by increasing demand for technologies that reduce carbon emissions from industrial processes and power generation. North America currently leads the market, benefiting from the presence of key players and supportive government policies.

Recent advancements in carbon capture technology are focused on improving efficiency, reducing costs, and developing new applications for captured CO2. Direct Air Capture (DAC), which removes CO2 directly from the atmosphere, represents a promising area of innovation, despite its current higher cost and energy intensity. Researchers are also exploring novel materials and processes, such as advanced sorbents and membranes, to enhance CO2 capture selectivity and lower energy requirements.

Key players in the carbon capture industry, including Carbon Engineering, Climeworks, Aker Carbon Capture, and Occidental Petroleum, are at the forefront of developing and deploying these advanced technologies. These companies are crucial in the global effort to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors and achieve net-zero emissions targets. Their ongoing projects contribute to a growing pipeline of over 400 CCUS initiatives announced globally.

Government policies and incentives are critical accelerators for CCUS deployment. The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, for instance, significantly expanded the 45Q tax credit for CCUS projects, increasing credit values and lowering qualification thresholds. Such policy support is essential for stimulating the substantial investment and infrastructure development required to scale up carbon capture technologies. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that if all planned projects are realized, total capture capacity could reach approximately 450 million tons of CO2 per year by 2030.