News
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July 15, 2010
Chairman of Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute Emphasizes CCS Technology's Critical Role in Fighting Climate Change"Some 20 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions reductions necessary between now and 2050 can be achieved through CCS, according to the International Energy Agency.
"But for that reduction to become reality, we need to have more than 3,000 projects operational over the next four decades, trapping and burrowing away a volume of carbon dioxide equivalent to twice the volume of oil and gas the world currently extracts each year. …
"So CCS isn't optional - it's essential...
"Critics like to say we don't know enough about CCS, but this is untrue. A handful of commercial-scale CCS projects have been operational in Norway, Canada and Algeria for nearly as long as two decades. Vast learning is available from those successful projects, but not widely shared...
"There is no doubt that we will also need to try and have exchanges with each other - either on where we stand personally on CCS, and on where we stand politically, and where we stand on the global issues that confront us at this time. What is important is that we keep moving forward to try and ensure that CCS is at the forefront of our thinking."
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July 13, 2010
Reports Link Execution of CCS to Avoiding Climate ChangeBellona details the recommendations of a report by the Clean Air Task Force, urging the Obama administration to move on ensuring "timely realization of the full potential of CCS." The report concluded that "during a 10-year period between 2040 and 2050, the power sector would need to double the emissions reduction rates achieved in previous decades in order to meet mid-century climate stabilization targets," which "will be impossible without necessary CCS infrastructure in place and lower technology costs." The report also "stresses that the fate of global climate may depend on finding ways to burn coal without emitting CO2. It "recommends a $20 billion funding plan to finance about 30 ‘pioneer' CCS projects by 2018 to overcome technical uncertainties."
The Hindu Business Line reports the release of a similar report by the International Energy Agency, which stated "that without new policies fossil fuels will continue to provide most of the world's energy needs, with energy-related CO2 emissions almost doubling to 57 Gigatonnes (Gt) by 2050." An IEA official said "Increasing energy efficiency and carbon capture and storage (CCS) would be two key options available to stakeholders including governments."
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July 12, 2010
Moore Capito Calls for EPA to Halt "Assault" on Coal IndustryIn a commentary for Politico, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), co-founder of the Congressional Coal Caucus, wrote that Washington, via the Environmental Protection Agency, "continues to push an anti-coal agenda" that "amounts to an assault on an industry that employs more than 500,000 hardworking Americans and supplies nearly half of America's electricity." The "EPA's attempts to control climate change through regulation and stall the approval of mining permits can only lead to coal states like West Virginia bearing the brunt of poorly thought-out policies that translate into greater job loss and higher energy costs." The state is already "feeling the burden of excessive regulation with no consideration of our future." The "out-of-control regulation authority will cost American jobs, increase energy prices and threaten our national security."
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July 08, 2010
$67 Million in Grants Awarded By DOE for Carbon Capture ResearchIn continuing coverage from Thursday's briefing, Discover Magazine reports the Department of Energy "has offered $67 million for research on carbon capture, in hopes of propelling nascent carbon capture and storage projects." Because "capturing the greenhouse gas requires energy, adding 80 percent to the cost of electricity for a new pulverized coal plant and around 35 percent for a high-tech coal gasification plant," the funding aims "to reduce these costs to less than 30 percent and 10 percent, respectively. The funded projects look at ways to improve membranes and solvents to capture the gas after the plant burns the coal." Energy Secretary Steven Chu said "the research is in line with the Obama administration's goal to have five to 10 commercial demonstration carbon capture projects online by 2016," explaining, "Charting a path toward clean coal is essential to achieving our goals of providing clean energy, creating American jobs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions."
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July 07, 2010
CSIRO and China United Team Up For Joint Underground Carbon Storage ProgramAbout 2000 tonnes of carbon dioxide will be stored underground in China's Shanxi province under a joint research program between the CSIRO and China United Coalbed Methane Corporation. The $10 million project aims to inject CO2 into coal seams in order to both store the gas, and to enhance methane recovery...
The project has received funding from the Chinese and Australian governments as part of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate and is also supported by the Japan Coal Energy Centre.
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July 04, 2010
American Coal Council CEO Janet Gellici Talks About The Successful History Of CCTClean coal technologies have successfully helped reduce regulated emissions by 60 percent since 1970. While coal use has more than doubled over the past 40 years, emissions of SO, NOx, particulates, ozone, lead and CO have decreased. This is due, in large part, to public-private clean coal technology (CCT) programs administered by the Department of Energy (DOE) that have reduced pollution, increased energy efficiency and created American jobs.
CCT programs have produced substantial benefits for U.S. taxpayers that far exceed the federal government's investments. Cumulative benefits to date total $6 billion vs. DOE costs of $3.5 billion -- a return on investment (ROI) of 1.7. By 2020, the cumulative benefits from the program will likely total $111 billion vs. DOE costs of $8.5 billion for an ROI of more than 13.
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June 16, 2010
IEA Points to Progress on CCS ProposalsAccording to Energy Efficiency News, “‘Significant progress’ has been made toward the commercialization of carbon capture and storage (CCS), according to a new report being presented to G8 leaders at the June Summit in Canada.” The report from the International Energy Agency, “the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) and the Global CCS Institute says that the goal set two years ago in Hokkaido, Japan, of launching 20 large-scale CCS demonstration projects by 2010 will require industry and governments to work together and accelerate their efforts. … Currently, 80 large scale projects are at various stages of development around the world, with five already operational and one is starting construction.”
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June 16, 2010
Air Products awarded $253 million in DOE funding toward CCS projectThe AP reports Air Products & Chemicals Inc. announced "Wednesday that it was awarded $253 million in funding from the Energy Department to complete a carbon dioxide capture project in Port Arthur, Texas." The funding, "from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will be used for final engineering, design, construction and operation of the project through September of 2015," according to the company, and "represents two-thirds of the roughly $384 million project. Air Products said it will design, construct and operate a state-of-the-art system to capture carbon dioxide from its two steam methane reforms within the Valero Refinery in Port Arthur. The recovered and purified carbon dioxide would then be used in enhanced oil recovery."
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June 16, 2010
DOE Researchers Test Coalbed Methane Sequestration at Alabama Site.“Researchers led by the Energy Department are testing the potential to sequester carbon dioxide while enhancing natural gas production at a site in Alabama.” The Tuscaloosa County coalbed methane well will be field tested to evaluate the “capability of mature coalbed methane reservoirs to store CO2, DOE said.” Earlier this week, researchers “began injections of CO2 into an existing coalbed methane well. Four new wells are being used to monitor reservoir pressure, gas composition, water quality and the CO2 plume.” This “test will inject 240 tons of CO2 into the formation over a 45- to 60-day period.”
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June 16, 2010
Total Has CCS Success.“A French oil company is testing carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) in the southwest region of the country with positive results.” Major oil producer, Total, “converted a part of a methane plant into a CO2 capture demonstration project,” in which the “captured gas is pumped about 17 miles away where it is injected underground into a depleted natural gas reservoir. The project was declared successful after five months -- the 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide sequestered so far have stayed put.” Climatewire adds, “Over the next five years, Total plans to sequester 120,000 tons of carbon at the site and monitor its ability to contain the gas.”
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