Can data centers help carbon capture finally take off? (Axios)
The technology has long proven too pricey to deploy. Now, the AI frenzy could shift the equation: At least five US projects aim to pair carbon capture with data center-linked natural gas plants. Up to $80B could flow into gas-plus-CCS buildouts, BCG estimates.Â
Why it matters: Recently, hyperscalers have leaned harder on gas…even as they cling to climate commitments. Carbon capture could reconcile those two realities. And if it works out here, the concept could spread globally.
Major caveats: That’s a major “if.” No US natural gas plant currently operates with carbon capture, despite years of ambitions. Upfront costs remain steep, and time is ticking—a federal carbon capture tax credit expires in 2033.