A multi-criteria screening evaluation of geological CO2 storage potential in Thailand

To attain net-zero aims and mitigate climate change, large-scale carbon capture and geological storage of CO₂ are necessary. Thailand's government aims to reduce CO₂ emissions by 20% by 2030, compared to current levels. This study uses a national-scale GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to screen Thailand's lithology and sedimentary basins for CO₂ storage capacity. We ranked geological, hydrogeological, and infrastructure data such as reservoir lithology and thickness, structural stability, formation depth, brine salinity, proximity to CO₂ sources, and surface land use using six criteria. An analytical-hierarchy process (AHP) was used to weight these variables and get a composite appropriateness score for each region. The petroleum basin with Permian carbonate reservoir and the Khorat Plateau with Mesozoic sandstones are the two highest priority regions, according to the findings. These regions combine thick, well-sealed reservoirs with surrounding large emitters. The output prioritizes probable storage sites spatially, taking into account geological capacity, infrastructural, and social variables. This thorough screening approach, which uses the original data layers and figures, creates a reproducible framework for CCS site selection in Thailand and other rising nations.