What is Clean Coal?
In a world of short sighted selfishness, Clean Coal technology stands out as one of the worst possible solutions to the emission of Carbon Dioxide from coal burning power stations. Carbon Capture and Storage, CCS, is at the heart of the concept. The aim is to capture and store CO2 from power station emission fumes. Several methods of achieving this are currently under development though it is worth noting that at present none are commercially viable and none are 100% effective, so CO2 still escapes to the atmosphere.
CCS requires the carbon dioxide from the power station to be placed in storage. The most talked about sites for this are used oil wells, with the CO2 being liquefied and then pumped into place.
There is a major risk associated with this activity. Should geological movement open up one of these carbon storage areas, there would be effectively an enormous Carbon Dioxide burp emitted. Given the vast quantities of CO2 that are being planned to be buried, such an event could release enough CO2 to risk a significant imbalance in the atmosphere.
It is important to realize that CCS does not get rid of Carbon Dioxide. All it does is hide it for a while and leave it as a nasty gift for future generations to deal with. The way things are heading our children will have enough problems without having to contend with the ticking time bomb of millions of tons of pressurized gas just waiting to escape into the atmosphere.
An Operating Clean Coal Power Station
There is a fully functional 30 Megawatt clean coal power station being operated by a company called Vattenfal, in eastern Germany. The emission fumes from this power plant are pure CO2. Because of the high purity and concentration of those gases, it is easier to capture the majority of the CO2. The CO2 is then liquefied and trucked away some 300km to an underground storage site.
The pure exhaust fumes are obtained by burning the coal not in regular air, but in an environment of pure oxygen. Both the use of the pure oxygen and the effort needed to capture and store the emissions reduces the effectiveness of this type of energy generation, while doing nothing to remove the long term threat of the Carbon Dioxide escaping into the atmosphere at a later date.
I'm Alright Jack
CCS does not stop Carbon emissions, it just pushed the problem of our excessive pollution onto the next generation. This kind of "I'm Alright Jack" attitude is what has led to the environmental problems we are facing today. If we want our children to inherit a cleaner world we're going to have to focus on developing truly clean energy sources such as Solar power and Wind power. Clean Coal is an excuse for us to continue living excessive lifestyles while forfeiting our children's future.
Clean Coal would be better called "swept under the carpet" coal.
In a world of short sighted selfishness, Clean Coal technology stands out as one of the worst possible solutions to the emission of Carbon Dioxide from coal burning power stations. Carbon Capture and Storage, CCS, is at the heart of the concept. The aim is to capture and store CO2 from power station emission fumes. Several methods of achieving this are currently under development though it is worth noting that at present none are commercially viable and none are 100% effective, so CO2 still escapes to the atmosphere.
CCS requires the carbon dioxide from the power station to be placed in storage. The most talked about sites for this are used oil wells, with the CO2 being liquefied and then pumped into place.
There is a major risk associated with this activity. Should geological movement open up one of these carbon storage areas, there would be effectively an enormous Carbon Dioxide burp emitted. Given the vast quantities of CO2 that are being planned to be buried, such an event could release enough CO2 to risk a significant imbalance in the atmosphere.
It is important to realize that CCS does not get rid of Carbon Dioxide. All it does is hide it for a while and leave it as a nasty gift for future generations to deal with. The way things are heading our children will have enough problems without having to contend with the ticking time bomb of millions of tons of pressurized gas just waiting to escape into the atmosphere.
An Operating Clean Coal Power Station
There is a fully functional 30 Megawatt clean coal power station being operated by a company called Vattenfal, in eastern Germany. The emission fumes from this power plant are pure CO2. Because of the high purity and concentration of those gases, it is easier to capture the majority of the CO2. The CO2 is then liquefied and trucked away some 300km to an underground storage site.
The pure exhaust fumes are obtained by burning the coal not in regular air, but in an environment of pure oxygen. Both the use of the pure oxygen and the effort needed to capture and store the emissions reduces the effectiveness of this type of energy generation, while doing nothing to remove the long term threat of the Carbon Dioxide escaping into the atmosphere at a later date.
I'm Alright Jack
CCS does not stop Carbon emissions, it just pushed the problem of our excessive pollution onto the next generation. This kind of "I'm Alright Jack" attitude is what has led to the environmental problems we are facing today. If we want our children to inherit a cleaner world we're going to have to focus on developing truly clean energy sources such as Solar power and Wind power. Clean Coal is an excuse for us to continue living excessive lifestyles while forfeiting our children's future.
Clean Coal would be better called "swept under the carpet" coal.
About the Author:
Read more about Fossil Fuels at Roger Vanderlely's website www.green-planet-solar-energy.com. You might also like to read about finding cheap solar panels to help reduce your electricity bill.
No comments:
Post a Comment