5. Quantitative Carbon Value Retention (CVR) Assessment of Representative CO2 Utilization Pathways.
| category | CO2 utilization pathway | CO2 consumption (Mt yr–1) | carbon retention | permanence score (P) | economic value score (V) | indicative CVR score (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| temporary carbon use | enhance oil recovery | ∼80 | low, carbon is largely re-emitted | 1 | 4 | 50 |
| synthetic fuels/e-fuels | <10 | 1 | ||||
| transitional carbon storage | urea/fertilizer production | ∼130 | low-medium | 2 | 4 | 60 |
| chemicals and polymers | ∼10–20 | 3 | 70 | |||
| permanent carbon locking | building materials/mineralization | ∼5–10 | high, decades-centuries | 4 | 3 | 70 |
| regenerative carbon assets | advanced carbon materials | <1 | high, long-term potential | 5 | 5 | 100 |