About CO₂ Transport

CO₂ is transported by truck, ship or pipeline. When CO₂ is used in the food industry it is usually transported on tank trucks, but to transport the voluminous CO₂ emissions from large power plants; currently pipelining is the only solution although shipping concepts are under investigation. Conceptually, transport by ship is a viable option for small to medium volumes over very long distances, but for large volumes of CO2 pipeline transportation is preferable and anticipated.

This pipeline transport process is well-understood as CO₂ pipelines have been used in USA since the 1970s, transporting large volumes to oilfields for enhanced oil recovery. US pipeline infrastructure has the capacity to carry 50 million tons of CO₂ a year, and according to US experiences pipeline transport has proved safe and reliable.

The biggest challenge to CO₂ transportation will be the support and financing available to build a network of CO₂ pipelines that could be - in terms of size and scope - equivalent to today’s current oil and gas industry.