Burying CO2 could mitigate damage

Momentum is building behind carbon dioxide capture and storage.

According to World-renowned energy expert Sir Eric Ash, the idea of separating CO₂ from gases in power stations and bury it is gaining momentum. Ash is not aware of any coal plant around the world which currently does this, but he says there is hope.

He believes China, the US and the UK are beginning to take stock of the damage being done by CO₂ released by coal as well as of the potential of burying it. Ash says the best place to bury CO₂ is under the sea, but there are places on land where it could be safely stored.

Speaking at the annual Wolfson Memorial Lecture at the University of Cape Town, Ash said CO2 emissions are still increasing. “We have not levelled them off yet, let alone got close to a decrease.” He believes it is vital to find ways of mitigating the damage caused by CO2 emissions from coal. Ash saysthe rapid rise in CO₂ over the last 50 years is unprecedented and relates very closely to computer models.

Source: Infrastructurene.ws