Page - 63 - in Water, Energy, and Environment - A Primer

generation and cement production, which is discussed in more detail below. 6.1.1 Carboncaptureandsequestration WikipediadefinesCCSas ‘theprocessofcapturingwastecarbon dioxide (CO2) fromlargepoint sources, suchas fossil fuelpower plants, transporting it to a storage site, and depositing it where it will not enter the atmosphere, normally an underground geological formation.’ Considerable literature exists on CCS, exhibiting a wide range of opinion on its viability as a technology to reduce CO2 emissions. The principal argument for CCS is that the world today is fueled largely by coal, oil and natural gas and that this situation is not likely to change any time soon. In fact, as many developing nations industrialize and they emerge from poverty, the demand for energy increases steadily and it is argued that only fossil fuels can meet that demand in coming decades. It is also argued that, while solar, wind and other renewable energy technologies can eventually replace electricity from coal and natural gas power plants, this will not occur quickly and people will need fossil energy during the long transition. In addition, some industries like steel and cement are not so easily ‘fixed’ and will continue to use fossil fuels in increasing amounts as global industrialization grows. These points raised in support of CCS are countered by the following arguments: • CCSisexpensive,whetheraddedtoanexistingpowerplant or industrial carbon dioxide source, or included in newly constructed facilities. The energy penalty for operating CCS is also high, requiring a fair amount of parasitic energy that reduces efficiency and revenues. • When operating, CCS systems require large amounts of water. Fossil fuels 63