Carbon Capture Cost Calculator

Work out carbon capture cost instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Carbon Capture Cost Calculator

Cost per tonne captured understates the real figure because the capture process itself consumes energy, generating additional emissions. Cost per tonne avoided divides by the net reduction and is always higher — often 25-40% higher for post-combustion capture on a coal plant with a 20-30% energy penalty.

Formulas

Cost per tonne

Cost per tonne captured = capture cost + transport and storage cost

Avoided basis

Cost per tonne avoided = cost per tonne captured / (1 - 0.5 x energy penalty)

Worked example

With the default values below, Carbon Capture Cost Calculator returns Cost Per Tonne Avoided of $83.33. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Carbon Dioxide Capturedminimum 0 t/year: 1,000,000 t/year
Capture Costminimum 0 per tonne: 60 per tonne
Transport And Storage Costminimum 0 per tonne: 15 per tonne
Energy Penaltyaccepts 0–60 %: 20 %

Results

Cost Per Tonne Avoided: $83.33
Annual Capture Cost: $75,000,000
Cost Per Tonne Captured: $75.00
Avoided As Fraction Of Captured: 90.00%

Step by step

1Values used
2Cost per tonne
3Avoided basis
4Cost Per Tonne Avoided= 83.33
5Annual Capture Cost= 75,000,000
6Cost Per Tonne Captured= 75.00
7Avoided As Fraction Of Captured= 90.00

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.
Carbon capture and storage projects require geological storage permits, long-term liability arrangements and monitoring, verification and reporting under the applicable regulatory framework.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Carbon capture and storage projects require geological storage permits, long-term liability arrangements and monitoring, verification and reporting under the applicable regulatory framework.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is captured not the same as avoided?

Running the capture plant needs steam and power, which either reduces plant output or burns more fuel. The extra emissions from that energy must be netted off the capture volume.

What drives the energy penalty?

Solvent regeneration heat dominates in amine post-combustion capture, plus compression to pipeline pressure. Penalties of 20-30% of plant output are typical, and reducing them is the main research focus.