UK/China agree zero emisions coal fired electricity

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UK/China agree zero emisions coal fired electricity

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Behemoth

Joined: 01 Dec 2004
Posts: 19023
Location: Leeds

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 05 4:25 pm Post subject: UK/China agree zero emisions coal fired electricity

Sounds too good to be true? Well they dont mean zero emissions really....

Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (National)

UK SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH CHINA ON NEAR ZERO EMISSIONS COAL-FIRED ELECTRICITY

Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett today welcomed a UK/China landmark agreement on the development of clean coal technology with carbon dioxide capture and storage, which aims to reduce significantly the climate change impact from coal-fired electricity generation.

The project aims to demonstrate coal-fired power generation with carbon capture and storage technology in both China and the EU by 2020. It comes at a time when estimates show that carbon dioxide emissions from China's increasing coal use are growing rapidly.

The UK is leading the first phase of the demonstration project with £3.5m of funding from Defra and DTI. The three-year feasibility study will examine the viability of different technology options for the capture of carbon dioxide emissions from power generation for geological storage in China.

Commenting on the announcement, Mrs Beckett said:

"The agreement demonstrates that the UK and China are working together on action to combat the global challenge of climate change. This agreement strengthens the work that the UK has been doing with China on climate change both directly and through the EU, and is another example of the excellent progress made this year through our G8 and EU presidencies.

"Carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power generation are growing rapidly and represent a serious challenge to the long-term stability of the climate. Carbon capture and storage technology have a key role to play in abating this impact and I strongly welcome today's agreement."

Chief Scientific Adviser Sir David King formally signed the agreement in Beijing with Minister Xu Guangha, from the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, which signals the start of the first phase of the near Zero Emissions Coal (nZEC) project.

Sir David said: "I am delighted to have been able to sign this important agreement, which marks a new level of international cooperation in the practical demonstration of what I believe to be a critical technology in meeting the challenge of climate change."

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Plans for joint EU-China nZEC cooperation were announced at the EU-China Summit on 5 September as part of the Partnership on Climate Change and Energy. Further information can be found on the Defra website at https://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/internat/devcountry/china.htm

2. Carbon capture and storage involve capturing carbon dioxide from the combustion process and storing it underground in geological formations such as aquifiers and depleted oil fields. The technology has the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by some 90 per cent.

3. The UK will tender for the work required in the feasibility stage under Phase 1 and will be looking for expressions of interest early in 2006.

4. The European Commission is also preparing a high level agreement on carbon capture and storage which will complement today's agreement.

Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on our website https://www.defra.gov.uk
Defra's aim is sustainable development

Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45434
Location: Essex

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 05 4:28 pm Post subject:
There's been talk of this for some time, should be interesting, wonder if Dougal knows anything about it.

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 05 6:38 pm Post subject:
Dougal's only learning about everything... Learning from this, its a £3.5m, 3 year "feasability study". And it looks like that's the extent of the commitment. But they hope "by 2020" to "demonstrate" working technology. Seems like a little, and a long way off. Especially since China is currently building how many hundred coal-fired plants... ?

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45434
Location: Essex

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 05 6:40 pm Post subject:

dougal wrote:

Seems like a little, and a long way off.
Especially since China is currently building how many *hundred* coal-fired plants... ?

True, wonder how much nearer clean burning coal generation we'd be if the British coal industry still existed.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 05 7:20 pm Post subject:
There was something on TV about this a few days back, I thought some of the new poswer stations in the USA already captured the CO2? I also though an ideal place to lock it away was to use old oil wells and it had the useful side effect of forcing up extra oil.

dougal

Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 7184
Location: South Kent

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 05 8:13 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

... I also though an ideal place to lock it away was to use old oil wells and it had the useful side effect of forcing up extra oil.

Enhanced Oil (&/or gas) Recovery is the reason lots of stuff is pumped *down* oil wells.
Remember this thread?
https://forum.downsizer.net/about1733.html

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45525
Location: yes

Posted: Thu Dec 29, 05 3:55 pm Post subject:
so its more greenwashing then ?

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