Risks and uncertainties in carbon capture, transport, and storage projects: A comprehensive review

The rapid escalation of climate change and global warming underscores the critical role of CO2 emissions, necessitating effective mitigation strategies. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has emerged as a promising way to address this challenge. It is estimated that CCS could account for 25-67% of emissions reductions in heavy industries. Nonetheless, the realization of large-scale CCS deployment demands a meticulous evaluation of associated risks (e.g., pure and speculative) and uncertainties (e.g., aleatoric, epistemic and Knightian) across the entire process. This review paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the risks and uncertainties (R&U), both technical (e.g., oprational and site chractrization) and non-technical (e.g., financial, political and social) inherent in CCS initiatives. Drawing from a diverse array of recent literature sources-including more than 400 CCS-related articles, books, theses, and reports-the analysis spans the period from 2015 to 2023. The methodol-ogy adheres rigorously to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, ensuring methodical precision and coherence. Our analysis indicates that approximately 47% of studies found from 2015 focused on technical R&U in CCS, while the remaining 53% addressed non-technical R&U. This distribution demonstrates a relative equilibrium in the research landscape as depicted in the litera-ture. This review by considering R&U within the CCS landscape can provide crucial insights for engineers and researchers in decarbonization. It serves as a vital guide for navigating intricate challenges in CCS projects. Moreover, administrators and developers can use this knowledge to enhance technological security and cost -efficiency. Ultimately, this paper identifies practical strategies and methodologies that enhance the feasibility of CCS, offering concrete recommendations and suggestions to elevate the success potential of CCS endeavors.