Turbine technology | Carbon capture and storage
In high-demand scenarios such as those involving large data centres, the value proposition is even stronger. CCS provides a pathway to clean, reliable, round-the-clock power when other low-carbon options are not available at scale.
If the last mile of decarbonisation is thermal then making that generation clean, and flexible, is the next step.
Infrastructure, markets and timing
Wider deployment of CCS depends on infrastructure. Power-sector CCS would require access to carbon transport and storage networks. Without them, proven technologies cannot scale.
This requires investment, and investment decisions must be grounded in economics. Ultimately, the project must stand on its own merits.
Still, where carbon infrastructure exists or is being developed, policy incentives can accelerate deployment. In the United Kingdom, for example, strong policy frameworks and progress on storage networks are beginning to unlock private investment.
The same trend is visible in other regions, from continental Europe to the Middle East. But realising the full potential of CCS will require co-ordinated development of carbon infrastructure, planning frameworks, and market signals.
CCS and Hydrogen
Hydrogen and CCS are not in competition. They are complementary technologies that will operate on different timelines.
Hydrogen has long-term potential as a zero carbon fuel and energy storage medium. But deployment at scale requires significant advances in fuel cost, infrastructure and availability. In the near term, hydrogen will be deployed first where it makes most impact and offers multiple returns. Substituting grey hydrogen in industry or producing synthetic fuels for marine transport or aviation are the first targets. The power sector will follow but at a later stage.
Gas turbines are long-term investments. Once built, they are expected to operate for 25 to 30 years. If hydrogen fuel is not available during that period, these turbines will run on natural gas, and without capture, could emit carbon for decades. CCS offers a way to avoid that outcome. As we build towards a future in which hydrogen becomes more widely available, we must also ensure that we are decarbonising effectively along the way. Integrating CCS with gas turbines allows us to do both.
MHI sees hydrogen and CCS as parallel options. In the future, hybrid models will emerge that blend hydrogen, biogas with gas and optimise the range of operation for CCS. These solutions will help manage residual emissions while expanding clean generation capacity.
Even in peaking applications, CCS-equipped turbines can outperform hydrogen-only units and at low utilisation levels, they remain commercially viable.
Himeji carbon dioxide capture plant, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Photo MHI. The capture pilot plant, also employing MHI’s KM CDR Process™ technology, is located at Himeji No. 2. The power plant is owned and operated by Kansai Electric Power Co (KEPCO). The Himeji No. 2 carbon dioxide capture pilot plant was established to conduct research and development on capture technologies using flue gas from gas turbines at the Himeji site. The CCS plant has a capture capacity of approximately five tons CO2
per day
In base-load operations, their value increases further. Data centres and other industrial users require constant, low-carbon electricity. In regions where renewables or nuclear options are constrained, CCS-equipped turbines can deliver.
CCS is also flexible. In time, multi-block modular systems may allow phased operation depending on fuel mix or seasonal demand. That adaptability will be essential. Overall, CCS is not a stopgap. It is a key part of the core strategy for long-term decarbonisation.
The last mile is thermal
The last mile of decarbonisation will be thermal. CCS-equipped gas turbines offer one of the
34 | July/August 2025|
www.modernpowersystems.com
most realistic tools to reach net zero while maintaining system stability.
The technology is proven. The commercial models are understood. And the operational need is immediate. Carbon capture and storage supports grid reliability and decarbonisation. It complements renewables and avoids emissions lock-in.
The projects in Ravenna and Himeji show what is already possible. With the right infrastructure, investment framework and policy support, CCS can scale. To realise this potential, governments, developers and financial institutions must work together building out carbon infrastructure, reducing risk for early projects, and embedding CCS into national energy strategies.
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