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Teacher Notes
CO2 Capture and Geological Storage (CCS) is a technological process to capture CO2 emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants and other industrial processes and then store the CO2 deep underground in geological formations securely away from the atmosphere. CO2 may be removed before or after combustion. The example above illustrates post-combustion capture from an industrial plant, followed by trapping in a porous rock.
CO2 can be stored securely underground because when it is injected into the porous rock, the higher temperatures and pressures that act on it deep underground, mean that it becomes a “supercritical fluid”, which is dense like a liquid, but viscous like a gas.
A layer of cap rock above the porous layer prevents it from escaping. The pipe that delivers the CO2 to the underground storage area is surrounded in multiple layers of steel and concrete to prevent leakage.
The development of capture and storage facilities also includes many monitoring measures to ensure that CO2 doesn't escape. To refelect the empahsis on long-term secure storage, the process is often referred to as Storage, Monitoring and Verification (SMV).
Currently, CCS is still at a pre-commercial demonstration stage.
In September 2008, a 30MW CCS pilot plant was opened at Vattenfall, Germany to capture CO2 from coal-fired electricity generation. A major aim of this demonstration project is to reduce the cost of CCS technology so that it can be widely used in decades to come.
By 2030, renewable energy (particularly, wind power) will play an increasingly important role in the fight against climate change in Europe. However, in this timeframe, fossil fuel (coal and gas) will still remain the major source of energy. That's why the development of commercial CCS technology is attracting so much interest.
Further information on CCS technology is available from the CO2 Capture Project
A more detailed animation and explanation of CCS technology is available on the Bellona website |
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