Carbon Dioxide Removal and Sequestration
Course Description
Carbon dioxide is the most significant anthropogenic greenhouse gas, primarily emitted through fossil fuel combustion, industrial processes, and deforestation. Atmospheric CO2 concentrations have now exceeded 420 parts per million, levels not seen in millions of years. This increase contributes directly to global warming, ocean acidification, and an increase in extreme weather events, including storms, droughts, and heatwaves. While reducing emissions is critical, it is no longer sufficient to achieve climate targets. Carbon dioxide removal technologies are essential to offset residual emissions, particularly in hard-to-decarbonize sectors. Understanding the carbon cycle and CO2 sources is fundamental for designing effective sequestration strategies that align with international climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement.
What you'll learn in this course?
Understand the fundamentals of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and global climate impacts.
Explain various carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies.
Describe the principles of carbon capture, transport, and sequestration (CCS).
Evaluate natural and engineered CO2 sequestration methods.
Understand the challenges, risks, and opportunities in carbon sequestration.
Assess policies and incentives driving CDR adoption.
Analyze case studies of successful carbon removal and storage projects.
Prerequisites
Basic understanding of environmental engineering, climate change, and energy systems
Familiarity with carbon-management terminology is helpful
Course Curriculum
- Introduction to Carbon Dioxide and Climate Change
- Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Methods Overview
- Direct Air Capture (DAC)
- Bioenergy with Carbon Capture & Storage (BECCS)
- Ocean-based CO2 Removal
- Mineralization and Enhanced Weathering
- Geological Sequestration
- Transport and Storage Infrastructure
- Policy, Economics, and Risk Assessment
- CO2 Storage Monitoring Techniques
- CO2 Utilization (CCUS)
- Afforestation and Reforestation
- Soil Carbon Sequestration
- Challenges in Carbon Removal
- Opportunities in Carbon Removal
- Economics of Carbon Capture and Sequestration
- Risk Management
- International Policies and Frameworks
- Integration of CDR into Energy Systems
- Emerging Technologies in CDR
- Public Perception and Stakeholder Engagement
- Future Outlook and Global Potential
- Case Study 1: Climeworks DAC Project (Switzerland)
- Case Study 2: CarbFix Mineralization (Iceland)
- Case Study 3: BECCS Pilot, Drax Power Station (UK)
- Summary
- Carbon Dioxide Removal and Sequestration (5 minutes)