Clean Energy, Climate and Carbon

With the general reader in mind, Clean Energy, Climate and Carbon outlines the global challenge of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. It covers the changing concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide through time and its causes, before considering the promise and the limitations of a wide range of energy technologies for decreasing carbon dioxide emissions. Despite the need to decrease carbon dioxide, the global use of fossil fuels is increasing and is likely to continue to do so for some decades to come. With this in mind, the book looks at the range of clean energy technologies and considers in detail, what for many people is the unfamiliar clean energy technology of carbon capture and storage (CCS). How can we capture carbon dioxide from flue gases? How do we transport it? How do we store it in suitable rocks? What are suitable rocks and where do we find them? How do we know the carbon dioxide will remain trapped once it is injected underground? What does CCS cost and how do those costs compare with other technology options? The book also explores the political environment in which the discussion on clean energy technology options is occurring. What will a price on carbon do for technology uptake and what are the prospects of cutting our emissions by 2020 and of making even deeper cuts by 2050? What will the technology mix look like by that time? For people who are concerned about climate change, or who want to learn more about clean energy technologies, including CCS, this is the definitive view of the opportunities and the challenges we face in decreasing emissions despite a seemingly inexorable global increase in energy demand.

Professor Peter Cook, CBE, FTSE, is a distinguished earth scientist with an outstanding international reputation and many publications on greenhouse gas, energy and resource issues to his credit, including as a Coordinating Lead Author of the IPCC Special Volume of Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage. He was the Director of the British Geological Survey from 1990 to 1998 and until 2011 the CEO of CO2CRC, one of the world’s leading collaborative research bodies focused on greenhouse gas technologies. He is currently a consultant on energy and greenhouse issues, Senior Advisor to CO2CRC and Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne.

CONTENTSPrefaceAcknowledgements1 The contextClimate change science: the controversiesGlobal and national efforts to take action on climate changeAbout this book2 CO2 and climate changeGreenhouse gasesThe nature of carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide and earth’s historyWeather versus climateCauses of pre-human climate changeDistinguishing natural climate change from anthropogenic climate changeSea level change as evidence for global warmingGlobal warming and extreme weather eventsAct now or later?Conclusions
3 Where and why are we producing so much CO2 ?The production and use of energy and its impacts on CO2 emissions: an overviewThe use of fossil fuelsTwo key sectors: electricity production and transportConclusions
4 Technology options for decreasing CO2 emissionsSolar energyWind powerHydroelectric powerOcean energyBiomassGeothermal energyNuclear powerSequestering CO2 through carbon capture and storage (CCS)Conclusion
5 The mitigation mixPopulation growth and the energy mixBiofuels in the mixLand requirements of different technologiesEnergy and waterRenewable energy in the energy mixNon renewable energy in the energy mixThe energy mix in the medium to long termConclusions
6 Where and how can we capture CO2 ?Directly removing CO2 from the atmosphereCapturing CO2 emitted from various sourcesCCS and gas productionCCS and coal and gas-fired power generationPost combustion captureCCS and gasificationCCS and industrial processes emitting CO2 Technologies for separating CO2 from emissionsConclusions
7 How can we transport CO2 ?Key issues in transportation of CO2 via pipelinesCO2 transportation by road, rail and seaReducing transportation costs: CO2 hubsConclusion
8 Storing CO2 Why geological storage over other forms of storage?Identifying suitable geological CO2 storage sites: sedimentary basinsFeatures of a sedimentary basin that may make it suitable for storageStorage of CO2 in depleted oil and gas fieldsStorage in deep saline aquifersStorage in coalsStorage in basaltsStorage in serpentinitesAssessing storage capacityNational assessments of storage potentialConclusions
9 How do we know CCS will be effective?The nature of risk assessmentGeological riskExisting natural gas storage facilitiesNatural accumulations of CO2 Knowledge derived from large scale commercial CO2 storage projectsLocation-specific risk assessment: characterising the siteThe risks of earthquakesThe risk to groundwaterMonitoringThe regulatory regimeA ‘social licence’ for CCS?
10 The cost of clean energyThe interplay of costsThe costs of capturing CO2 emissions from non-power sourceTransport and associated costsStorage costs Indicative total costs for CCS Cost estimates derived from operational CCS activities Costing uncertainty Comparison costing Conclusions
11 The technology and the politics of clean energy Future strategies in a carbon constrained world Achieving emissions reductions targets CCS in the clean energy mix The policy settings The impact of pricing carbon on clean energy technology uptakeConclusions
Acronyms
Additional general reading
References to data sources
Index