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UK Scientists Lead China Closer To Carbon Capture And Storage
London, UK (SPX) Nov 21, 2007 China's CO2 emissions from using coal are set to double by 2030, the scale of which is significant in the context of mitigating global climate change. In view of the essential role of coal in China's energy system, it is vital to minimise emissions where coal is used. The British Geological Survey (BGS) attended the launch of the Near Zero Emissions Coal (NZEC) Phase 1 study in Beijing, China today. The aim of this study is to look at the feasibility of building coal fired power plants in China fitted with CO2 capture and storage (CCS). NZEC implements the vision of realising a large scale Near Zero Emissions Coal demonstration in China as agreed at the EU-China Summit in September 2005. Dr. Nick Riley MBE, Head of Science for Energy at BGS said: "CCS offers the opportunity to reduce emissions per unit of electricity by 85 - 90%. Large-scale deployment of CCS in China has potential to significantly reduce future greenhouse gas emissions". The geotechnical aspects of the research will involve selecting strategic sedimentary basins to be mapped for potential regional CO2 storage assessments (geocapacity), followed by more detailed assessment of sites potentially suitable for a demonstration of CO2 storage in China linked to a demonstration of CO2 capture from a coal-fired power station. A Geographical Information System (GIS) linking current and planned large CO2 point sources to potential geological storage options (source-sink matching) will be constructed. BGS and the China University of Petroleum (Beijing) co-ordinate the CO2 geological storage part of the study, which also includes working in close partnership with Heriot Watt University, BP and Shell (UK) and the China University of Petroleum (HuaDong), Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Tsinghua University, PetroChina, Jilin Oilfield and China United Coalbed Methane Corp (CUCBM). NZEC is funded by the UK Government through Defra and DBERR and is co-ordinated by AEA Energy and Environment (UK) and ACCA21 (China). The Near Zero Emissions Coal (NZEC) initiative was announced as part of the EU-China Partnership on Climate Change at the EU-China Summit in September 2005. The Joint Declaration on climate change stated that the EU and China will aim "to develop and demonstrate in China and the EU advanced, near-zero emissions coal technology through carbon capture and storage" by 2020. The aim of the EU-China NZEC agreement is to bring forward the time when coal plants will be built with CCS in China and in the EU. It will build on planned European research and demonstration activity and will facilitate technology transfer between European industry and researchers, and their counterparts in China. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the UK and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) on December 19th 2006 to detail specific UK funded action (NZEC). A complementary MoU was signed between MOST and the European Commission on February 20th 2006. Both MoUs detail a common set of objectives to be achieved during Phase 1 of the NZEC initiative. The British Geological Survey (BGS), a component body of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), is the nation's principal supplier of objective, impartial and up-to-date geological expertise and information for decision making for governmental, commercial and individual users. The BGS maintains and develops the nation's understanding of its geology to improve policy making, enhance national wealth and reduce risk. It also collaborates with the national and international scientific community in carrying out research in strategic areas, including energy and natural resources, our vulnerability to environmental change and hazards, and our general knowledge of the Earth system. BGS co-ordinates the CO2GeoNet European Research Network of Excellence on the geological storage of CO2 and is the UK's foremost public sector organisation conducting research into the feasibility of underground CO2 storage as a means of decarbonising fossil fuel emissions. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links CO2GeoNet Powering The World in the 21st Century at Energy-Daily.com
New Michigan Tech-Michigan State Biofuels Partnership
Houghton MI (SPX) Nov 21, 2007First they went to Sweden together with the governor. Now Michigan Technological University and Michigan State University are teaming up to further support the developing renewable fuels industry in the state. "Finding alternative sources of energy and fuel is going to be critical for our nation and can mean thousands of jobs for Michigan citizens," said Gov. Jennifer Granholm. |
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