Analysis of demand and path for offshore CCUS technology in coastal provinces

Carbon dioxide capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is recognized as a crucial supporting technology for achieving global net-zero emission targets. However, compared to terrestrial CCUS technologies that have entered large-scale demonstration and commercialization, offshore CCUS is still in its early stages of development. Its indispensable role in achieving carbon neutrality targets in coastal regions has not been fully recognized, and there is a lack of systematic path planning for its technological development. A preliminary study was conducted on the technical demands and implementation pathways for offshore CCUS in coastal provinces in China. Firstly, through the analysis of current carbon emissions and source-sink matching in coastal provinces, the significance of offshore CCUS for achieving carbon neutrality in China's coastal provinces, especially in the southeast coastal area of China, was clarified. Secondly, a systematic comparison was made of the current offshore CCUS demonstration projects worldwide, and a detailed elaboration was provided on the development status of key infrastructure required for offshore CCUS, such as CO₂ transport vessels and injection platforms. Finally, combining the trend of CCUS cluster development, a technical path for CO₂ Collection Onshore and Storage Offshore (CCOSO), which involved different transportation and injection methods, was proposed. The CCOSO approach will promote the establishment of a new model of cross-industry and cross-enterprise demonstration cooperation for offshore CCUS in coastal provinces, and contribute to the high-quality achievement of carbon neutrality targets in these regions.