Describing Critical Barriers in Commercial Deployment of CO2 Capture and Utilization Technologies

Abstract

Despite decades of research on CO 2 capture and conversion, translating laboratory advances into products for widespread public use remains elusive. This review argues that the persistent emphasis on incremental innovations in capture and catalytic conversion overlooks the fundamental barriers that eventually determine large-scale feasibility. Here, we identify and critically evaluate six key bottlenecks that demand urgent attention: (i) the high energy requirement for CO 2 capture and regeneration, (ii) limited efficiency and selectivity of catalytic systems, (iii) infrastructure and scalability constraints, (iv) challenges linked with CO₂ purity and transportations, (v) uncertainties in lifecycle emissions and net carbon reduction, and (vi) inadequate economic incentives and market viability. Significantly, our analysis extends beyond laboratory studies to systematically assess insights from emerging CO 2 capture startups and ongoing commercial ventures, including those in space and defense. By interlinking the technological, infrastructural, and market-based gaps, we demonstrate that progress cannot be measured solely by energy efficiency and productivity; it must instead address the broader ecosystem of deployment questions. To facilitate broader understanding, authors present complex issues through simplified flowcharts and conceptual diagrams, making the debate accessible to scientists, policymakers, and the wider public. Finally, we propose potential paths to overcome these fences, reframing the CCU discussion from "can it be done?" to "what will it take to deploy it?". In this way, our review provides not only a censorious diagnosis of why commercialization lags but also a framework to guide future research, investment, and policy toward actionable climate solutions.