Login
Advanced

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

Description

Capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) at its source (power plants, gasification plants etc.) to be transported and stored underground or used for example to increase underground pressure in oil wells (enhanced oil recovery - EOR). Successful carbon capture and storage (CCS) lowers the carbon emissions when burning fossil fuels. Carbon Capture technologies are either used pre-, in- or post-combustion. Post-combustion, the carbon dioxide needs to be separated from other exhaust gases which can be an energy intensive process that also lower the combustion efficiency. To store the carbon dioxide afterwards it is necessary to have access to the right (natural) geological storage structure and monitor potential leakage. For in-combustion processes, which aim to produce less emissions or purer carbon dioxide streams, see "Clean Coal Technologies" and "Coal/Biomass Gasification", for pre-combustion processes see "Coal Processing".-----Major problems-----long-term reliability wide geographical availabilitycost and energy consumption of capture, transport and storageimpact on efficiency of plant-----Potential storage locations-----*Geological Storage*The following geological storage formations are explored to trap carbon dioxide through their structure, water content or mineral composition.*Saline Aquifers*Deep saline aquifers are unsuitable for drinking water but have the potential to keep carbon dioxide stored in liquid stage. Some of the GHG will react with dissolved salts and remain permanently fixed. (see also compressed air energy storage in "Grid scale Energy Storage")*Oil & Gas Reservoirs and Enhanced Oil-Recovery (EOR)*When pumped into an underground formation the carbon dioxide displaces other gases or liquids which can be used to enhance the recovery rates of oil, gas, water and other wells (see "Enhanced Recovery").*Coal beds*Carbon dioxide can be used to enhance the recovery from coal-bed methane and underground coal gasification projects, see "Coal Gasification" and "Coalbed Methane"If the technology is used in biomass power plants it even enables a process to reduce the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration: During growth, the biomass (plants) store carbon dioxide which is normally released during decay or incineration. If the released carbon dioxide is permanently stored using CCS, the overall concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is reduced. However, the technology is not yet proven and expensive. If used in a power plants it also decreases the efficiency of the plant (ie output appr. 20% lower) resulting in the need for higher input and thus more carbon dioxide emissions.

Latest Editorial 182

Masdar and IFC could invest USD1.5bn in clean energy
20 May 13
Air Products capturing CO2 from hydrogen production
14 May 13
CO2 and Statoil sign carbon capture data deal
21 Mar 13
Scottish and South Korean researchers join for CCS R&D
19 Mar 13
CCEMC offering USD35m for new carbon-based products
04 Mar 13
DNV and PSE design could cut maritime CO2 emissions by 65%
15 Feb 13
Shell going ahead with USD1.4bn oil sands CCS project in Canada
10 Sep 12
Energy firms call for European support for CCS projects
07 Aug 12
Shell and SSE win lease for North Sea CO2 storage
19 Jul 12
CCEMC awards USD46m for carbon capture projects in Alberta
16 Jul 12
Read more...

Live Global News 23249

Symposium participants visit Estevan
24 May 13 - Saskatchewan Lifestyles
The Rise of the Native Rights-Based Strategic Framework
24 May 13 - Canadian Dimension
UK Urged to Boost Clean Energy Over Natural Gas
24 May 13 - Renewable Energy World
Carbon capture in Europe a 'farce', say researchers
23 May 13 - BusinessGreen News
CARBON CAPTURE: Southern Co. chief defends Miss. project costs
23 May 13 - Greenwire
Reforestation Study Shows Trade-offs Between Water, Carbon And Timber
23 May 13 - ScienceNewsline
Will the lights go out on UK households?
23 May 13 - nebusiness.co.uk
S. Korea constructs its first carbon capture facility
23 May 13 - Yonhap News Agency
U.K. Urged to Boost Clean Energy Over Natural Gas
23 May 13 - Renewable Energy World
Reforestation Study Shows Trade-Offs Between Water, Carbon and Timbe
23 May 13 - Newswise
Read more...

Companies 54