carbon capture and storage

Researches and MPs are pressing the British government to do more for commercialization of carbon capture and storage (CCS) as the country heads towards a major display of CCS technology in 2014. It is expected that the winning bidder to receive funding for this CCS demo would be chosen within the next 12 months; the bidder will have to demonstrate burial of 2 million tonnes of CO2 per annum generated by a 400 MW coal-fired plant.

The Environmental Audit Committee has released a report warning the British government that unless it takes strict action against coal-fired power plants, it will not be able to meet its CO2 emission targets. The report stressed the need to get rid of the power plants that do not run with clean technology. Coal-fired plants emit twice the amount of CO2 as compared to those that use gas but with gas prices spiraling up, coal is becoming the preferred fuel of choice. Despite their serious environmental impact, UK might see the setting up of 5 or 6 coal plants by 2015.

A recent report issued by the International Energy Agency, based in Paris, has concluded it would take an investment of $45 trillion by 2050 to reduce the threat of global warming.