Carbon dioxide utilization

Carbon dioxide utilization uses captured carbon dioxide as a feedstock or working material. Chemical conversion can produce fuels and other compounds; mineralization can incorporate carbon into inorganic materials. These routes differ in their energy requirements and in how long the carbon remains out of the atmosphere.^[ref][ref]

Reducing carbon dioxide to an energy-rich fuel requires an external energy supply. Burning that fuel later can return the carbon to the atmosphere, so utilization is not automatically permanent carbon capture and storage. A life-cycle assessment must compare the whole process with a stated alternative, including energy generation, capture, conversion and product use.