“Status of Carbon Capture, Storage Programs and Technology” - “Hot Topic Hour” on August 29, 2013

Neeraj Gupta, Principal Research Scientist at Battelle Memorial Institute, updated us  on the work being done at Battelle related to Carbon Capture and Sequestration. This involves determining the capability for safe storage and for EOR. The Midwest region has many large historic oil and gas (O&G) producing areas.

§  ~8,500 million metric tons of CO₂ could be stored within depleted O&G fields (~10 years worth of regional emissions)

§   Using CO₂ for EOR could lead to the production of an additional 1.2 billion barrels of oil. However, EOR needs to be proven in the region.

Theresa Pugh, Director Environmental Services at the American Public Power Association (APPA), tabulated the many impediments to commercial demonstration of geologic sequestration of CO₂ as an acid gas in non-EOR locations by the power sector. She addressed environmental laws and commercial law limitations as well as the huge 'infrastructure lift' needed before CCS can be commercially demonstrated and deployed. She pointed out that it has taken six years to increase the CO₂ pipelines from 3,000 to 6,000 miles but they would need 66,000 miles by 2030 if we are going to sequester CO₂.

Jeffrey (Jeff) H. Michel MSc. Ing.- Büro für Energieforschung, Energy Consultant, Hamburg, Germany, was to discuss CCS implementation costs and considerations of how great the respective hurdles remain. Unfortunately we had a technical problem and were not able to record his presentation. However we have his power points plus relevant articles.

He presents some sobering statistics such as by 2015 CO₂ emissions from coal usage in non- OECD countries will likely be twice the level (8.9 Gt) of all the OECD countries. In Europe the CCS costs will be far higher than allowances received.

A second related factor will be certain technical miscalculations that would be difficult to surmount at any cost.

Latest CCS study in which such topics are treated:

http://www.airclim.org/sites/default/files/documents/APC-28-lost-hopes-ccs.pdf

Here are also two short articles:

http://www.energypost.eu/index.php/ccs-a-pipedream-of-policymakers/

http://www.energybiz.com/article/13/07/carbon-capture-and-storage-and-climate-change

Michel goes on “As pointed out in the presentation I prepared for today's meeting, a meaningful contribution of CCS to averting global warming and ocean acidification would mathematically require a new power plant with CO₂ capture to be erected every two days between now and 2030. If the corresponding two degree global warming goal is instead exceeded, which is a far more likely prospect, then human adaptation will be the only strategy that warrants subsequent public funding. New York City appears already to have reached that level of comprehension.”

Bios, Abstracts and Photos can be seen at BIOS, ABSTRACTS, PHOTOS - 8-29-13.htm

The individual presentations are as follows:

• Status of Carbon Capture and Storage Programs and Technology Applications Webinar - Hot Topic Hour August 29, 2013  (Webinar Recording  Dated:  8/29/2013)

• CO2-Enhanced Oil Recovery and Geologic Storage in the Midwestern USA by Neeraj Gupta, Battelle - Hot Topic Hour August 29, 2013  (Presentation  Dated:  8/29/2013)
• CCS and the Many Challenges to Commercial Demonstration for Power Plants in Non-Oil/Gas Recovery Locations by Theresa Pugh, American Public Power Association (APPA) - Hot Topic Hour August 29, 2013  (Presentation  Dated:  8/29/2013)
• European and Global Prospects of Carbon Capture and Storage by Jeffrey Michel, Buro fur Energieforchung - Hot Topic Hour August 29, 2013  (Presentation  Dated:  8/29/2013)