[LINK] carbon sequestration

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

David writes,

> > http://www.netl.doe.gov
> 
> Maybe CO2 can be stored, but can it be captured? The last I heard,
> the best technologies captured only 2% of the CO2 from power plant
> flue gasses. That was about a year ago. Has anything changed? David 


Don't know about that David, but, some claim "CCS is a gimmick that
allows carbon-spewing industries to carry on with business as usual"

And so far it does appear a feel-good-do-little technology. But with
attitudes such as India's, re coal power, we do need to do something?



India Rejects Calls For Emission Cuts
Officials Say Growth Will Be Compromised
 
By Rama Lakshmi (snip)
Washington Post Foreign Service 
Monday, April 13, 2009; Page A08 


NEW DELHI -- Days after the Obama administration unveiled a push to 
combat climate change, Indian officials said it was unlikely to prompt 
them to agree to binding emission cuts, a position among emerging 
economies that many say derails effective action. 

"If the question is whether India will take on binding emission reduction 
commitments, the answer is no. It is morally wrong for us to agree to 
reduce when 40 percent of Indians do not have access to electricity," 
said a member of the recent UN Indian delegation 

In India, the debate has been cast as a choice between pursuing urgently 
needed economic growth to reduce poverty, and addressing climate change. 

More than 60 percent of India's power is generated from coal. But India 
has repeatedly said that it will not compromise on growth by committing 
to emission reduction goals set by developed nations, which it deems 
bigger culprits when it comes to pollution. 


President Obama's promise of a leading U.S. role in combating climate 
change is a clear departure from the stance of his predecessor, G. Bush. 

A climate bill recently introduced by Democrats in the House calls for a 
20 percent cut in carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 2020, along with a 
substantial increase in renewable-energy use. 

"I am reasonably optimistic. But it is not entirely upon President Obama. 
He has to carry the Congress and the Senate with him," said Rajendra K. 
Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 

He added that India is "very unlikely" to change its official position. 

Indian officials say it is unfair to group their country with the major 
emitters because, per capita, India's emissions are a tenth of those in 
the United States. 

CCS: carbon capture and storage 

Another issue raised was the controversial carbon capture and storage 
technology, or CCS. In January, India joined a handful of nations 
gingerly experimenting with CCS. 

Critics say it is a gimmick that allows carbon-spewing industries to 
carry on with business as usual. 

"The idea of CCS allows our addiction to coal to remain. It ensures that 
we keep burning coal," said Chandra Bhushan, associate director of the 
Center for Science and Environment. "Who will monitor whether there are 
carbon dioxide leaks from underground storage?" 

Norway and Canada have begun implementing various carbon-storage 
initiatives. Last week, Germany approved a draft law to develop the 
technology, and China has identified two sites for storage. 

India has not formally committed to conducting CCS field experiments. But 
an official in the Power Ministry said it has the "potential to be an 
extremely important technology. But we are unsure about how it will 
work," the official said. 

"Let the world first demonstrate. We will learn from them."

<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2009/04/12/AR2009041202452.html?hpid=sec-world>

--

Cheers,
Stephen