Several entities in the United Arab Emirates announced a decarbonization Rocky initiatives will be used on Tuesday.
The partnership was established by state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Fujairah Natural Resources Company, the UAE sovereign wealth fund’s renewable energy company Masdar, and London-based decarbonization company 44.01. Together, they will “mineralize” carbon dioxide into rock formations in the emirate of Fujairah, thereby removing it from the atmosphere, according to a press release.
What does it mean: Carbon capture refers to the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The captured carbon is often stored deep underground in oil and gas reservoirs, coal seams and aquifers.
During carbon mineralization, carbon dioxide turns into a solid substance. This process occurs naturally because some rocks store carbon dioxide when exposed to it. However, carbon can also be artificially injected into rock formations, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
In the UAE project, carbon will be captured from the air, dissolved in seawater and then injected into underground rock formations, according to a press release.
Why it matters: Carbon mineralization has advantages over other types of carbon storage. Storing carbon underground causes the gas to dissolve into water. However, when carbon forms new minerals in rocks, it cannot escape back into the atmosphere, according to the USGS.
ADNOC has been focusing on decarbonization efforts for some time.The company announced a $15 billion carbon capture investment, carbon sequestration and other green technologies earlier this month. last year, ADNOC Announces Partnership with TotalEnergies on carbon capture.
The company’s interest in decarbonisation is part of a wider effort by the UAE to gradually reduce its dependence on oil and gas.