On July 31, 2008, Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) announced in a media release, entitled "Carbon capture milestone for CSIRO in China” that it had “launched a post-combustion capture (PCC) pilot plant in Beijing that strips carbon dioxide from coal power station flue gases in an effort to stem climate change.” The report also stated that this carbon capture technique “can potentially reduce carbon dioxide emissions from existing and future coal-fired power stations by more than 85 per cent.”
Carbon Capture and CO2 Sequestration
According to Carbon Capture and Sequestration by Elizabeth Wilson and David Gerard, published by Blackwell Publishing in 2007, “Carbon capture and geologic sequestration (CSS) is the process of separating carbon used in industrial processes and sequestrating underground." Because CCS would allow the continued use of fossil fuels while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions, it is widely seen as one option to mitigate atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions.
Coal as an Energy Source
The industrial revolution of the nineteenth century was built on coal, and today coal is still a major source of energy, especially for the developing world. In the United States, according to U.S. Coal Supply and Demand: 2007 Review, published by the Energy Information Administration in April 2008, “Total U.S. coal consumption was 1,128.8 million short tons, an increase of 16.5 million short tons. Almost 93 percent of all coal consumed in the United States is in the electric power sector.” China’s Coal Future by Peter Fairley, published by Technology Review (MIT) in January 2007 states that, “To keep pace with the country's economic growth, China's local governments, utilities, and entrepreneurs are building, on average, one coal-fired power plant per week.”
Coal Reserves
Unlike other fossil fuels, which have very limited reserves, there are large proven world wide reserves of coal. The U.S. International Energy Association’s International Energy Annual, 2005 estimates that the world’s proven reserves of coal amounted to 999 short tons. In its US Coal Reserves report of October 2007, it states that, “As of January 1, 2007, EIA estimated that the remaining U.S. recoverable coal reserves totaled over 264 billion short tons from a demonstrated reserve base of 491 billion short tons.”
Problems with Coal
Of all the fossil fuels in use today, coal has the largest potential for pollution. The EIA’s website report titled Coal and the Environment states that burning coal produces not only Carbon Dioxide, but also Nitrous Oxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Mercury and particulates.
Problems with Carbon Capture and Sequestration
Although Carbon Capture and Sequestration is an emerging technology and may have the potential to clean up coal, not all environmentalists are convinced of its usefulness. The environmental organization Greenpeace, in False Hope, Why Carbon Capture and Storage won’t save the Climate lists a number of problems with the concept.
- CCS cannot deliver in time to avoid dangerous climate change. The earliest possibility for deployment of CCS at utility scale is not expected before 2030.
- CCS wastes energy. The technology uses between 10 and 40% of the energy produced by a power station.
- Storing carbon underground is risky. Safe and permanent storage of CO2 cannot be guaranteed.
- CCS is expensive. It could lead to a doubling of plant costs, and an electricity price increase of 21-91%.
- CCS carries significant liability risks. It poses a threat to health, ecosystems and the climate. It is unclear how severe these risks will be.
Carbon capture can play a part in lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Coal as a plentiful and widespread source of energy will continue to be used worldwide. Combining the new technology with the old energy source may prove beneficial in the fight against Carbon Dioxide and Global Warming and help cut down on air pollution.
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