Dr Hamill: “The exact route to net zero may still be up for debate but carbon capture (CC) will be central to any realistic plan. Some believe it discourages the use of greener fuels, yet the most recent data from renewable energy forum REN21 leaves the situation beyond doubt. In 2019, coal, oil and gas still accounted for 80.2% of the total energy mix, representing a drop of 0.1% from 2009. Emissions, however, will not just be down to power generation but also other industries like cement where clinker-based production cannot be changed easily without significant disruption to global supply.”
“It’s clear current demand cannot be met without some continuation of current practices, not least because a drastic, unmanaged transition would be far too damaging. Indeed, the main draw for CC is its feasibility, providing businesses in hard-to-abate sectors with a practical means to cut carbon while also maintaining a level of output needed for growth. The potential savings are also impressive. The International Energy Agency, for example, estimates that CC projects could help reduce global carbon emissions by almost a fifth and lower the cost of tackling the climate crisis by 70%. Savings of that kind are often based on long-term projections but game-changing technology like that offered by Nuada is helping to cut the timescales.”
“Some of the most recognisable names in heavy industry have started to take note of CC. Mining giant Rio Tinto announced plans to deploy the technology at an aluminium smelt in Iceland, while the UK government signed off two multi-billion-pound schemes backed by several oil majors in the north of England. Arguably the most important development, however, comes from the Global Cement and Concrete Association, which has pledged to build 10 industrial-scale CC projects by 2030. This is a significant moment as the cement industry accounts for roughly 8% of the world’s carbon emissions.”
“These initiatives are welcomed, though the fact they’re only just being rolled out hints at the difficulties around current approaches to CC. Critics argue these problems are just another convenient excuse for companies unwilling to change their operating models in any meaningful way. But that idea is misplaced. Even the Global CC Institute acknowledges the greatest challenge to wider deployment is a lack of commercial incentives.”
Full story: https://www.moftechnologies.com/post/nuada-a-step-change-for-commercial-carbon-capture
