Michael JensenCoal-generated CO2 capture
July 10th 2008 05:50
Loy Yang power station (photo: www.theage.com.au)
An interesting press release came through my inbox earlier today, which I imagine will hit the papers tomorrow: CSIRO has captured carbon dioxide from the gasses produced at a power station, which apparently is a first for Australia.
They were working at a post-combustion-capture (PCC) pilot plant at Loy Yang Power Station in the Latrobe Valley. They're claiming that using PCC can potentially reduce emissions from existing and future coal-fired power stations by more than 85 per cent.
There's a video explaining the process that I had trouble playing, but hopefully you'll have more luck.
But something worth noting above is the use of the word potentially. While this is a really positive proof of concept and fits in with other large-scale work here and OS, it reminds us that fundamentally this project is at a relatively early stage and that there are no certainties in science. In all honesty, we just don't know if and how these things will work, that's why we do the experiments.
I'm no commentator and I do not understand all the science but I do know the importance of politics. While there's great science going on in the field of climate change, in light of the G8 summit's "shared vision" (oh please), people like Michael Costa in NSW and the Federal Opposition, I wonder how the Garnaut Report will be able to gain traction at all.
I muse on the whole climate change thing semi-regularly and don't have the answers. I wonder whether, even with all the political will in the world, we could be able to tackle things like acidification of the oceans (that is some super-scary stuff) - this alone is enough to keep you awake at night...
And another thing CSIRO didn't talk about was what will happen to the CO2 once it's captured?
| 123 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Louie
Climate Red
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
CLICK HERE TO GO TO GREENPEACE
P.S. all the CCS projects that have come over my desk use up to 40% of a coal fired power stations production just to get rid of the stuff which as I understand is the main downfall, the numbers don't even come close to adding up.
Comment by Janine
I could be cynical and say that there's a lot of things for which the numbers don't add up... But I'll avoid that for tonight
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
MS Paint Art
It's a crooked and disturbing path our erstwhile leaders of Government and Industry have taken us down, we should have acted years ago.
It's a worry.
Great post and picture.