CGSS Terminology Usage
CGSS will use the following concepts, terms and phrases.
CGSS welcomes your thoughts on these definitions and encourages you to pass this commentary onto others for comment.
CGSS will use the following concepts, terms and phrases.
CGSS welcomes your thoughts on these definitions and encourages you to pass this commentary onto others for comment.
There is an international effort to standardise on terminology, and whilst recognising that CGSS clients will continue to use the words they find comfortable or prefer, CGSS in reporting to clients will use consistent language and explain to our clients exactly what the terms CGSS use actually mean. This will be the case whether terms are used loosely in verbal conversations, or in CGSS reporting.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Geoscience Australia, the Australian Government Chief Scientist, the House of Representative inquiry, and many International Journals are adopting similar language to avoid confusion and to allow comparisons, especially of engineering and economics aspects of a CCS project.
There are many similar terms in the literature and common use. This causes confusion and inaccurate comparisons and assessments. These include; sequestration, carbon sequestration, carbon dioxide sequestration, geological sequestration, geological storage, carbon capture and storage, carbon dioxide capture and storage, carbon dioxide capture and geological storage and geosequestration (local Australian slang only).
Given most situations employing CCS technology will require hub developments, there will likely be a one-to-many relationship between a storage site and power plants, linked by a network of pipelines or ship transport. The ability to quickly and unambiguously separate out the individual component of this infrastructure and engineering system will be important for analysts, commentators and advisors.
Accurate and Acceptable Terminology
“Geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO2)” & “geological storage”
These are very descriptive terms and clearly convey the meaning and extent of the process being described. There is no possibility of confusing the intent of the term.
“Capture”
This is very descriptive and can’t be confused by another part of the process of CCS. Each capture process will need to be defined, e.g. either pre or post combustion.
“Transport”
Transport is the conveyance of carbon dioxide (CO2) from a source to a storage site. A question remains over the transport aspect and where it fits in in an engineering or economic calculation of a CCS project. The IPCC Special Report on CCS places it in the capture process, whereas some authors in Australia have included it in the storage process. It is a boundary issue that needs defining accurately for any assessment of a project.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Geoscience Australia, the Australian Government Chief Scientist, the House of Representative inquiry, and many International Journals are adopting similar language to avoid confusion and to allow comparisons, especially of engineering and economics aspects of a CCS project.
There are many similar terms in the literature and common use. This causes confusion and inaccurate comparisons and assessments. These include; sequestration, carbon sequestration, carbon dioxide sequestration, geological sequestration, geological storage, carbon capture and storage, carbon dioxide capture and storage, carbon dioxide capture and geological storage and geosequestration (local Australian slang only).
Given most situations employing CCS technology will require hub developments, there will likely be a one-to-many relationship between a storage site and power plants, linked by a network of pipelines or ship transport. The ability to quickly and unambiguously separate out the individual component of this infrastructure and engineering system will be important for analysts, commentators and advisors.
Accurate and Acceptable Terminology
“Geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO2)” & “geological storage”
These are very descriptive terms and clearly convey the meaning and extent of the process being described. There is no possibility of confusing the intent of the term.
“Capture”
This is very descriptive and can’t be confused by another part of the process of CCS. Each capture process will need to be defined, e.g. either pre or post combustion.
“Transport”
Transport is the conveyance of carbon dioxide (CO2) from a source to a storage site. A question remains over the transport aspect and where it fits in in an engineering or economic calculation of a CCS project. The IPCC Special Report on CCS places it in the capture process, whereas some authors in Australia have included it in the storage process. It is a boundary issue that needs defining accurately for any assessment of a project.
Inaccurate and Confusing Terminology
Carbon vs carbon dioxide (CO2)
Using the term carbon instead of carbon dioxide is not correct for CCS operations.
Sequestration
Geosequestration
Carbon vs carbon dioxide (CO2)
Using the term carbon instead of carbon dioxide is not correct for CCS operations.
Sequestration
Geosequestration
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Terminology for Geological Storage of CO2
As in many Geoscience disciplines, there are a range of terms being used currently around the world for CCS, and there is a need to both standardise and clarify the terms often used. CGSS has adopted a standard terminology to use in its discussions and reports on geological storage of CO2, and a range of terms to use with caution.
There are many sites with excellent glossaries, including the Glossary in Annex II of the IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage.
Terminology for Carbon dioxide (CO2) Capture and Storage (CCS)
CGSS has standardised on terminology and uses the phrases:
There are many sites with excellent glossaries, including the Glossary in Annex II of the IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage.
Terminology for Carbon dioxide (CO2) Capture and Storage (CCS)
CGSS has standardised on terminology and uses the phrases:
Geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO2)
Geological storage, and
Carbon dioxide (CO2) Capture and Storage (CCS)
Follow the IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage definitions
carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage
carbon dioxide (CO2) geological storage
geological storage
and in context, just storage or CO2 storage
CCS stands for CO2 (carbon dioxide) capture and storage, not “carbon capture and storage.”
This term has a negative connotation legally. It also creates confusion in regards to biosequestration where it was first commonly used (hence carbon sequestration). Sequestration also produces confusion as to whether the process involves just the storage aspects or incorporates both capture and storage. Some authors and speakers unwittingly use it interchangeably, thus creating even more confusion, both in technical and economic papers on CCS.
This term is local slang used by some regions in Australia only. Although it has some popularity, it has no International context. It is difficult to pronounce for some people. It suffers from the same definition problem as sequestration in terms of its actual meaning in terms of boundary issues. Commentators using this term often talk about a “geosequestration project”. It is unclear whether geosequestration is the storage project only, or includes the capture plant(s) and transport as well.
CCS operators don’t capture carbon nor do they inject it into the subsurface.
Gases or liquids are captured, hence the correct term is carbon dioxide (CO2).
Using carbon instead of carbon dioxide means analysts have to convert the molecular weight of the two substances to identify the volumes in an engineering or economic assessment, and also have to repeatedly query whether it is actually carbon being referred to or carbon dioxide (CO2).
Trees capture carbon.
