Reducing GHG emissions is at the heart of any effort toward a net-zero future. But one question remains: what should be done with residual emissions?
Among the available solutions, carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a proven technology, commonly used to increase production from hydrocarbon wells.
A promising alternative, however, goes a step further: carbon capture and utilization. Instead of storing carbon underground, the goal is to transform it into useful products—building materials, chemicals, or even proteins—while reducing GHG emissions.
The Valorisation Carbone Québec Project (2017–2019)
Funded by the Government of Quebec, the Valorisation Carbone Québec Project (PVCQ) aimed to assess the GHG reduction potential of different CO₂ conversion technologies.
At the heart of the project was the enzymatic CO₂ capture technology developed by CO₂ Solutions, in partnership with researchers at Université Laval — a combination praised for its innovation and potential impact (environnement.gouv.qc.ca).
CCG’s Role
Throughout the project, CCG was the exclusive partner responsible for quantifying GHG reductions.
Our team analyzed several CO₂ conversion pathways, including:
- Transformation into concrete (Carbicrete);
- Production of chemicals such as acetic acid, methanol, or dimethyl ether;
- Production of proteins for aquaculture feed using Kiverdi’s technology.
CCG’s Approach
Our methodological framework, validated by the Ministry of the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change (MELCC) and aligned with ISO 14064-2 standards, was structured in three stages:
- Identifying baseline and project scenarios;
- Estimating the GHG reduction potential for each technology;
- Summarizing the results, expressed both per kilogram of final product and per tonne of CO₂ captured.
The chart below illustrates these results, highlighting performance differences across the various technology families.
Results and Impact
The analyses conducted by CCG made it possible to:
- Objectively compare several families of technologies;
- Highlight those offering the greatest potential for GHG reduction;
- Support the selection of innovative and viable solutions for the future.
Although the project was discontinued in its third year due to funding issues, it provided a comparative assessment of the emission reduction potential of different CO₂ conversion pathways.