Abatement and mitigation of carbon dioxide emissions from power generation
Current understanding of the world's climate indicates that human-induced changes are occurring and may be sufficient in magnitude to require preventative action, such as limiting atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. The main anthropogenic greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide and its largest source is combustion of fossil fuels for power generation. Many different technologies can be used for reducing emissions, as well as increasing the removal of CO{sub 2} from the atmosphere through enhancement of natural sinks, such as by forestry. Some of these options are available today and could be implemented at relatively little overall cost. For example, improving energy efficiency and switching from high carbon fuels to low carbon fuels, if suitable supplies are available. These can achieve significant reductions in CO{sub 2} emissions. Introduction of renewable sources of energy or nuclear power to displace fossil fuels would achieve deep reductions in emissions if applied widely. However, to avoid disruptive changes, it will also be necessary to find ways of continuing to use fossil fuels but with much less emissions. Capture and storage of CO{sub 2} is a technology which could deliver deep reductions in emissions from fossil fuels. In this paper, methods of removing CO{sub 2} from the flue gas streams of coal and gas-fired power plants are examined, considering both plant as built today as well as possible future variants. Methods of CO{sub 2} storage are also discussed. The results on capture and storage of CO{sub 2} are put into perspective by comparison with studies of the large-scale application of forestry for sequestering atmospheric CO{sub 2}, and also large-scale use of renewable energy sources, in this case growth and harvesting of woody biomass for power generation. Each of these options has different characteristics, providing a range of choices of ways of tackling climate change.
- Research Organization:
- IEA Greenhouse Gas R and D Programme (GB)
- OSTI ID:
- 20018956
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9806214-; TRN: US0001991
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Power-Gen Europe'98, Milan (IT), 06/09/1998--06/11/1998; Other Information: 1 CD-ROM. Operating Systems: Windows 3.1, '95, '98 and NT; Macintosh; and UNIX; PBD: [1998]; Related Information: In: Power-gen Europe'98, [2400] pages.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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