Carbon Capture and Storage Technology (CCS) The Problem: Carbon Dioxide ● ● ● The sphere mainly affected by Carbon Dioxide is the Atmosphere Carbon Dioxide’s presence throughout the atmosphere means that the whole earth is affected Carbon Dioxide leads to Global Warming ○ ● ● Effects of global warming include: ■ Hotter temperatures ■ More extreme weather events ■ Increased drought ■ Rising sea levels ■ Loss of species The top 3 countries affected the most by global warming include Japan, Germany, and the Philippines Every country in the world has been affected in some way by global warming Human impact and effects ● ● ● The use of fossil fuels is the only factor that is big enough to raise carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere as quickly as they have Specific ways humans contribute to global warming and the carbon cycle are: ○ ○ ○ ○ Power generation Goods manufacturing Deforestation Transportation ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Lowered air quality More extreme weather events leads to more destruction of property, Island nations are especially at risk Rising sea levels puts coastal regions at risk of flooding Icebergs melting due to rising temperatures can release harmful diseases into the environment Higher temperatures can lead to more wildfires, putting more dry places like Australia and California at risk Effects on humans: Why should we address this issue? ● ● Politicians, investors, and health professionals have all began to put more emphasis on the importance of combating climate change The extreme weather effects and decline of resource caused by climate change can destroy infrastructure, get rid of jobs, and cause unrest ○ ○ ● ● These are all factors that lead to political instability and can weaken the economy Politicians are constantly working on climate related legislation and deals, and it is a controversial topic The world’s biggest investment firm, BlackRock now requires the companies it invests in to have clear actions and policies on how they will help combat climate change Climate change can lead to a weakened economy, affecting everyone and especially big companies and regular people who rely on a strong global economy to sustain themselves The Technology: Carbon Capture and Storage ● ● ● ● Carbon Capture and Storage technology (CCS) is the process of capturing carbon dioxide that is created through industrial processes, and storing it so that is does not enter the atmosphere Factories that use CCS can capture 90-100% of the carbon they use This process is done by gasifying fuel and then separating the carbon. The carbon is then liquified and transported by mainly pipelines to a storage site where it is kept deep underground Some storage sites include: ○ ○ ○ Former oil and gas reservoirs Coal beds Deep saline formations The Costs and Impacts ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● The biggest issue is the cost of implementation To fit a plant with CCS technology, it is extremely expensive, and can decrease a plant’s efficiency and increase its water consumption The costs of energy and maintenance also add on the to price tag, and for some plants, it’s financially unviable There is a higher risk on return, and this tends to scare investors away from CCS costs More research is needed, and the Department of Energy is looking into CCS development Carbon pipelines are also expensive to maintain and build, and the risk of a carbon leak can have devastating effects on the environment surrounding the pipeline There is not enough research yet on public sentiment regarding CCS With how well CCS can capture carbon, if done successfully, CCS can reduce a large amount of carbon emissions from entering the environment Works Cited ● ● ● ● ● ● Lindsey, Rebecca. “How Do We Know the Build-up of Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere Is Caused by Humans?” How Do We Know the Build-up of Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere Is Caused by Humans? | NOAA Climate.gov, https://www.climate.gov/news-features/climate-qa/how-do-we-know-build-carbon-dioxide-atmosphere-caused-humans#:~:text=The %20most%20basic%20reason%20is,quickly%20as%20they%20have%20risen. Iberdrola. “¿Cuáles Son Los Países Más Amenazados y Vulnerables Por El Cambio Climático?” Iberdrola, 3 Mar. 2020, https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/top-countries-most-affected-by-climate-change#:~:text=According%20to%20this%20analys is%2C%20based,places%20by%20climate%20change%20today. “Key Findings.” United Nations, United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/key-findings#temperature-rise. “Sustainable Consumption and Production.” United Nations, United Nations, https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-consumption-production/. “15,000-Year-Old Viruses Discovered in Tibetan Glacier Ice.” NSF, https://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=303232&org=NSF&from=news. “Carbon Capture and Storage 101.” Resources for the Future, https://www.rff.org/publications/explainers/carbon-capture-and-storage-101/#:~:text=Carbon%20capture%20and%20sequestration% 2Fstorage,CO%E2%82%82%20emissions%20in%20energy%20systems.
