Introducing STORECO2: Advancing Serpentine Carbonation for Carbon Capture
We’re excited to share the launch of the STORECO2 project, a new initiative aimed at exploring the potential of serpentine carbonation as a method for safely storing CO2 emissions. This technology holds promise for contributing significantly to the global efforts in combating climate change.
Serpentine carbonation involves the natural process of turning CO2 into stable minerals, such as magnesite. While the potential benefits of this process are considerable, two major challenges stand in the way of its large-scale application: the need for cost reduction and the necessity of public acceptance.
The STORECO2 project aims to address these challenges by studying natural carbonation systems known for their high efficiency. Our focus is on understanding how these systems, which can be likened to “ancient natural pilot plants”, were able to sequester CO2 effectively millions of years ago. The Castiglioncello magnesite deposit in Tuscany (Italy) serves as our primary research site, where we will apply a range of geochemical and geophysical techniques to uncover the secrets of efficient serpentinite carbonation.
The insights gained from this research will be instrumental in developing the scientific foundation required to scale up mineral carbonation processes. By improving our understanding of natural carbonation, STORECO2 seeks to advance the integration of this technology into the broader Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) strategies, contributing to the EU’s ambition of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.