Analysis of demand and path for offshore CO₂ storage technology in coastal provinces

CCUS is recognized as a crucial supporting technology for achieving global net-zero emission targets. However, compared to terrestrial CCUS technologies that have entered large-scale demonstration and commercialization, offshore CCUS is still in its early stages of development. Its indispensable role in achieving carbon neutrality targets in coastal regions has not been fully recognized, and there is a lack of systematic path planning for its technological development. Based on this, a preliminary study has been conducted on the technical demands and implementation pathways for offshore carbon storage in coastal provinces in China. Firstly, through the analysis of current carbon emissions and source-sink matching in coastal provinces, the significance of offshore carbon storage for achieving carbon neutrality in China's coastal provinces, especially in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions, is clarified. Secondly, a systematic comparison is made of the current offshore carbon storage demonstration projects worldwide, and a detailed elaboration is provided on the development status of key infrastructure required for offshore carbon storage, such as CO₂ transport vessels and injection platforms. Finally, combining the trend of CCUS cluster development, a technical path for offshore carbon storage based on the "CO₂ Collection Onshore and Storage Offshore" (CCOSO) approach, which involves different transportation and injection methods, is proposed. CCOSO will promote the establishment of a new model of cross-industry and cross-enterprise demonstration cooperation for offshore carbon storage in coastal provinces, and contribute to the high-quality achievement of carbon neutrality targets in these regions.