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So they are talking about a plant, soon to be built, that will capture about 50.000 tons of CO2 per year. Amazing! A single coal fired power plant (1GW) emits
by 08-15 8y ago
So they are talking about a plant, soon to be built, that will capture about 50.000 tons of CO2 per year. Amazing! A single coal fired power plant (1GW) emits 12 million tons of CO2 per year.
Seriously, this stuff won't work, and it's pointless as long as fossil fuels are burned somewhere on Earth. It's bloody obvious what to do instead: (1) stop burning coal for electricity, (2) stop burning methane ("natural" gas) for electricity, (3) stop burning methane for process heat, (4) stop using methane to make fertilizer, (5) use electrified railways instead of trucks for most transportation.
Then it makes sense to talk about synthetic fuels, CO2 capture, electrifying the remaining transportation, etc, but not before.
- mhandley 8y agoI agree about the priorities. But to do what you suggest, to the extend that it needs to be done, we need much better ways to cope with variability of renewables. We probably need a whole range of energy storage solutions; no single one will be sufficient. And then there are aviation and shipping, neither of which is going electric any time soon. So starting work on using excess power when renewables are over-generating to capture CO2 and using it to make carbon-neutral liquid fuels seems to also be a key part of the long-term picture.
- 08-15 8y ago> aviation and shipping Another distraction. They don't matter as long as coal is being burned. > renewables are over-generating Even then, trying to capture a trace gas is the dumbest thing anyone could attempt. Especially if the process involves calcining lime---what a ridiculous waste of energy. Just make ammonia instead.
- mynameisvlad 8y ago> Another distraction. They don't matter as long as coal is being burned. Sure, let's kill off basically the only way to get things and people across the world. I'm sure that'll end up lovely.
- pentae 8y agoThis nails it. What I don't get is; why don't these companies focus on scaling production for really efficient and cost effective Co2 scrubbers that can attach to any factory exhaust ventilation system and then have governments mandate their installation or face heavy fines and penalties? Capturing it at its source in industry would be a big start, then we just need to focus on forest clearing which is also a political issue
- rvail2 8y agoPointless? I wish I could back through history, and count how many times "experts" said certain ideas and endeavors were "pointless" just to have them become reality.
- thereisnospork 8y agoJust make sure you also tally up how many times they said 'pointless' and were proven right. Spending time and resources on things that won't work (economically) does no one any good.
- 08-15 8y ago"They laughed at Einstein. They laughed at the Wright brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown." -- Carl Sagan (paraphrased from memory)