Research on the progress of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies based on bibliometric analysis

Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) stands as a pivotal technology in addressing global climate change and a cornerstone of carbon reduction strategies. Over the past decades, numerous CCUS projects have been implemented, and several review studies have summarized the development of CCUS technologies. Previous research has primarily focused on specific aspects of CCUS, such as technological advancements in carbon capture or the economic feasibility of storage and utilization methods. While these studies have provided valuable insights, they often lack a comprehensive, bibliometric analysis of the global research trends, regional contributions, and the evolution of research hotspots over time. To address this gap, this study adopts bibliometric methods to analyze the relevant literature indexed in the Web of Science (WOS) database from 2000 to 2024. The results reveal a substantial increase in global scholarly interest in CCUS. While the USA pioneered CCUS, China has recently surpassed the USA in terms of publications. Meanwhile, the profound impact of COVID-19 on global CCUS technological collaboration and development was also explored. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the dynamic, interdisciplinary, and geographically diverse nature of CCUS, providing insights into the close connection between the research topic and the spatio-temporal dimensions. This paper identifies key challenges and opportunities by providing a holistic overview of the CCUS research landscape and offers actionable insights for future researchers and policymakers. This approach contrasts with earlier studies by integrating a data-driven bibliometric analysis with a broader temporal and geographic scope, delivering a more nuanced understanding of the CCUS ecosystem. • Bibliometric methods examined global CCUS research articles (2000–2024). • The research strengths and geographical distribution were visualized. • The impact of public health emergencies on CCUS collaboration was demonstrated. • The disciplinary complexity and the dynamism of themes were revealed. • The interrelation of themes with spatial and temporal dimensions was analyzed.