http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL95271320080909

Although small and only a start, Germany has entered the carbon capture and storage field with a new coal plant, located in the town of Schwarze Pumpe. The plant, produced by Vattenfall, will produce practically carbon-free power. While much smaller in scale and output than typical coal plants, the technology demonstrates a movement towards alternative energy around the world.

The plant operates through an oxyfuel boiler. Oxygen is injected into the boiler, powdered lignite (a type of coal with a high moisture content) is added, CO2 is produced and is then seperated and condensed to a smaller volume to be buried underground.

"Everybody's always criticizing CCS for never having a fully working model. Well here's one fully working model," said Stuart Haszeldine, a geologist at Edinburgh University and CCS expert.

 

"Maybe by 2013 you could predict a full size power station operating with CCS."

 

Coal is cheap and plentiful but also produces more heat-trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) than energy sources such as oil, gas and renewables. CCS works by trapping those gases from coal plants and burying them in porous rocks underground.

 

A U.N. panel of climate experts says the technology could underpin the fight to slow rising temperatures and avert more powerful storms, droughts and rising seas.

 

CCS also has the support of many governments. But some environmental organizations say it is a distraction which will delay a global transition to renewable alternatives such as solar power, away from fossil fuels like coal, and accuse energy companies of making token investments.

 

"We're taking our responsibility seriously," said Josefsson at the inauguration of the 70 million euro ($98.92 million) plant built over two years which sits next to a conventional coal-fired plant 100 times as large.

A major downside to this new attempt is the damage it does to consumers' pocketbooks. Right now, CCS plants would raise power prices beyond what they are already at. As many other developing plans like wind and solar continue to mature, this plan is still stuck in the very early stages of development and implementation.

Reuters; September 9, 2008

Submitted by K. Rutherford