Energy carbon sequestration

As the world population rises and with it the demand for energy, carbon sequestration will almost certainly become a key issue. This is because coal - a high-carbon fuel in plentiful supply, but one that yields more carbon dioxide than either oil or natural gas - is expected to play an increasingly important role as a primary source of energy. 

Socolow, R., ed. (1997). Fuels Decarbonizatioii and Carbon Sequestration Report on a Workshop. Princeton, NJ Princeton University Center for Energy and Environmental Studies. 

Doughty C., Pruess K., et al. Capacity investigation of brine-bearing sands of the Frio-formation for geological sequestration of C02. In Proceedings of First National Conference on Carbon Sequestration. 2001 U.S. Department of Energy. 

USDOE Carbon sequestration atlas of the United States and Canada. 2007 U.S. Department of Energy/NETL 88. 

For each ton of hydrogen produced from hydrocarbons, approximately 2.5 t of carbon is vented to the atmosphere [44-47], However, for each ton of hydrogen produced from current coal technology, approximately 5 t of carbon is emitted to the atmosphere. Principally, C02 capture and sequestration is a precondition for use of these fossil fuels. However, the sequestration necessity varies, because the relative atomic hydrogen-to-carbon ratios are 1 2 4 for coal oil natural gas. There are two basic approaches to C02 sequestration either at the point of emission (in situ capture) or from the air (direct capture). In either case, C02 must be disposed off safely and permanently. With the capture and sequestration of C02, hydrogen is one path for coal, oil, and natural gas to remain viable energy resources [46]. Carbon sequestration technologies are discussed in detail in Chapter 17. 

Odenberger, M. and Svensson, R. (2003). Transportation Systems for CO2 Application to Carbon Sequestration. Gothenburg Department of Energy Conversion, Chalmers University of Technology, www.entek.chalmers.se/ klon/msc. 

FutureGen, Integrated Hydrogen, Electric Power Production and Carbon Sequestration Research Initiative, U.S. Department of Energy, March 2004. Available at http // www.fossil.energy.gov... 

To meet the demand for 10-20 TW of carbon neutral energy, three options are viable (a) fossil fuel use in conjunction with carbon sequestration (b) nuclear power (c) renewable sources. 

Cannell, M.G.R. (2003). Carbon sequestration and biomass energy offset theoretical, potential and achievable capacities globally, in Europe and the UK. Biomass and Bioenergy, 24(2), 97-116. 

Australia also has abundant coal resources and focuses on coal gasification as part of its COAL 21 program, which includes research on carbon sequestration as part of the national clean coal strategy. The objective is that Australia s vast coal reserves would remain a long-term, secure and cost-effective source of energy, but rather than burn the coal power plants would gasify that coal and capture and sequester the CO2 in geological formations. 

The joint Office of Fossil Energy and Office of Science published a report entitled Carbon Sequestration State of the Science in 1999 [11], in which "... key areas for research and development (R D) that could lead to an understanding of the potential for future use of carbon sequestration as a major tool for managing carbon emissions" were formulated. To be successful, the techniques and practices to sequester carbon must meet the following requirements ... 

Second, most existing large C02 point sources are within easy access to a saline formation injection point, and therefore sequestration in saline formations is compatible with a strategy of transforming large portions of the existing U.S. energy and industrial assets to near-zero carbon emissions via low-cost carbon sequestration retrofits. 

Office of Fossil Energy and Office of Science, Carbon Sequestration State of the Science, 1999, http //www.netl.doe.gov/publications/press/1999/seqrpt.pdf... 

Biomass to Mineralized Carbon Energy Generation and/or Carbon Sequestration ... 

Finally, the successful sequestration of massive quantities of carbon may be essential for any hydrogen economy that makes more than transitional use of carbonaceous fuels. The history of radioactive waste disposal suggests that dedicated opposition can overcome general public acceptance of a technology and its waste disposal plan. Thus, even energy systems that now appear to enjoy widespread acceptance can become vulnerable to delays and costly false starts. The carbon sequestration issue falls into that category (see Chapter 7). 

As of 2002, for the first time, the Department of Energy s programs related to carbon sequestration are listed as an associated program of its hydrogen program. 

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