A Review of Solar‐Assisted Methods for CO ₂ Capture, Utilization, and Storage

Abstract Solar‐driven CO 2 capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) processes have emerged as a viable solution for addressing the challenges of CCUS in order to mitigate global warming and climate change. One key advantage of solar‐based systems is their ability to operate using renewable energy, largely eliminating or reducing the need for fossil fuels, which sets them apart from other technologies. This review seeks to gather and assess the key studies outlined in the literature that explore every current solar‐driven CCUS technique. The gathered research articles have been categorized based on their operating conditions and their specific techniques to provide valuable insight into the inner workings of these processes. The reviewed studies aimed to utilize solar energy to capture and convert CO 2 into useful products such as carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH 4 ), formic acid (HCOOH), and methanol (CH 3 OH). Regarding the capture methods of this study, solar energy integration in direct air capture (DAC), post‐combustion, pre‐combustion, and oxy‐combustion are considered. DAC offers strategies for carbon reduction from the atmosphere, which are best implemented in supplementary to other strategies aimed at reducing CO 2 levels. Additionally, DAC technologies are confronted with obstacles such as their high energy requirements and their cost‐ineffectiveness. Post‐combustion CO 2 capture generally presents as a more flexible and energy‐efficient method compared to pre‐combustion and oxy‐combustion CO 2 capture. In the sections concerning solar‐driven CO 2 utilization, photocatalytic, thermochemical, and electrochemical methods are reviewed. Photocatalytic CO 2 utilization shows promise as a sustainable approach, and its efficiency depends on a variety of factors, including the choice of photocatalyst, the intensity and wavelength of the light source, and the conditions of the reaction. Additionally, the presence of co‐catalysts or sacrificial agents can play a role in the efficiency of the process. Solar‐thermochemical CO 2 utilization functions at elevated temperatures, enabling the effective and specific conversion of CO 2 with minimal energy requirements. The effectiveness of utilizing CO 2 using solar‐driven electrochemical methods relies on various factors such as photoelectrode design, electrolyte type, specific reaction conditions like temperature and pressure, and the catalysts utilized to enhance CO 2 reduction reactions. Furthermore, CO 2 storage strategies such as oceanic, geological, and carbon mineralization have also been analyzed and evaluated. Here, alongside analytical evaluation of the related studies, a brief discourse on the potential future research avenues is also provided.