The risks and rewards of CO2 storage: New report finds leakage threats are manageable

Courtesy: IEAGHG

CO2 storage has recently become a hot topic for mainstream audiences with a Financial Times article claiming there isn’t enough capacity to justify the deployment at scale of carbon capture and storage (CCS). A large number of industry professionals and researchers were quick to point out some of its flaws and referenced a number of other research papers.

One such resource has now also been made broadly available – a technical report from IEAGHG and CSIRO called “Reviewing the implications of unlikely but potential CO2 migration to the surface or shallow subsurface“, offers one of the most detailed assessments yet of potential risks and impacts.

Originally published in January 2025 but now made directly accessible through the IEAGHG website, its central message is that while leakage can never be ruled out entirely, the probability of material environmental harm is extremely low compared to the urgent global threat of climate change.

What the CO2 Storage Research Reveals

The report draws on more than two decades of studies, laboratory tests, natural analogues, and controlled release experiments. Findings show that well-characterised storage sites, such as depleted oil and gas fields or deep saline aquifers, have negligible leakage risk. Where leaks might occur, they are expected to be small, patchy, and slowed further by natural processes like dissolution and buffering.

Potential leakage pathways include compromised wells or faults in rock formations, but these are well understood. The report notes that monitoring technologies can detect issues early, and remediation strategies are proven and effective. Crucially, no confirmed cases of leakage have been reported from commercial carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects to date, despite decades of operational experience.

Managing Perceptions and Building Trust

Even though the environmental risks are minimal, public perception remains vital. Climate anxiety, coupled with concerns about local impacts, highlights the need for transparent communication and robust monitoring.Though operators already adopt a dynamic approach to risk management, refining models and safeguards throughout a project’s lifespan, there is a need to communicate these in a better and more transparent way.

Ultimately, the report concludes that CCS provides substantial climate benefits with limited local risks. It’s broader message is that the greater danger is failing to deploy these technologies at the scale required to meet global climate goals.

source: Carbon Herald