CO2 transport systems for carbon capture and storage: advances, barriers, and future directions

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) has emerged as a key technology for reducing carbon emissions in industrial sectors. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of CO 2 transport within CCUS, focusing on pipelines, shipping, rail, and truck systems in terms of technical performance, economic feasibility, and infrastructure requirements. Bibliometric analysis indicates that the United Kingdom leads in CCUS transport-related publications, reflecting strong research activity and policy support. The results indicate that pipelines remain the most cost-effective solution for large-scale and continuous transport, while shipping offers flexibility for long-distance and offshore applications. Rail and truck transport are more suitable for small-scale or early-stage deployment due to their operational flexibility. A comparative regional analysis shows that North America and Europe have more advanced transport infrastructure, whereas other regions are still in the early stages of development. Despite significant progress, major challenges remain, including high capital costs, infrastructure limitations, and regulatory uncertainties. Future development requires integrated transport networks, technological innovation, and stronger policy support. This review provides insights into optimizing CO 2 transport systems to support large-scale CCUS deployment and global decarbonization efforts.