The energy penalty in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) refers to the additional energy required to operate carbon capture equipment, which reduces the net output of a power plant or industrial facility. This occurs because capturing CO2 from flue gas or industrial streams requires significant thermal and electrical inputs for processes such as chemical absorption, regeneration of solvents, and compression of captured gases. For example, amine-based systems require heat to strip CO2 from the solvent, which is then recycled back into the capture unit.
This penalty directly affects the economic viability and efficiency of CCS projects because it increases operational costs while decreasing the amount of usable energy produced or sold. To mitigate this impact, researchers are developing advanced technologies like solid sorbents, membrane separation, and cryogenic processes to improve capture efficiency and reduce the required energy input. The International Energy Agency (IEA) provides comprehensive data on carbon capture technologies at their official website: https://www.iea.org
