23. CLIMATE CONTROL TECHNOLOGY FOR FOSSIL ENERGY APPLICATIONS

This topic addresses carbon dioxide (CO2) and other non-CO2 greenhouse gases, principally methane (CH4), which are natural and important components of the atmosphere that, together with water vapor, exert a “greenhouse” effect trapping heat within the Earth’s atmosphere.  This phenomenon has, thus far, maintained the planet’s temperate climate.   However, because CO2 is generated by the combustion of all carbon-based fuels, human activity has raised global emissions of CO2 and other, non-CO2 greenhouse gases, from a negligible level two centuries ago to significant amounts today.

It has been postulated by some in the scientific community that the current rate of greenhouse gas build-up in the atmosphere worldwide will contribute to global warming because these greenhouse gases, by trapping heat more efficiently with their increased atmospheric concentrations, could put the global climate out of balance and thus cause significant adverse consequences for human health and welfare.

Hence, the capture and permanent sequestration of CO2, as well as other non-CO2 greenhouse gases (GHG), has become a major world wide goal.  In the United States, the capture and sequestration of CO2 and other non-CO2 GHG is expected to be an important element of any strategy to reduce the emission of GHG to the atmosphere.  Grant applications to address these concerns are sought only in the following subtopics:

a.  Breakthrough Performance Improvements on Supporting Systems for Post Combustion CO2 CaptureSignificant research and development is currently being pursued for new technologies to separate and capture CO2 from flue gas streams produced by existing coal-fired electric generating power plants and forecasted capacity addition.  However, some technologies are performance and cost constrained by their dependence on supporting systems, which are critical to their specific process.  For example, process integration improvements related to oxy combustion can only achieve incremental performance efficiencies and cost reductions.  Step change improvements are dependant on the cost and performance associated to the production of oxygen.   

Grant applications are sought to develop technologies that can substantially lower the cost of supporting systems, such as oxygen production units, when integrated with the dependant CO2 capture technology.  The complete CO2 capture technology with the innovative supporting system must demonstrate the potential to achieve the Sequestration Program performance and cost targets for flue gas produced by existing coal-fired power plants.  The CO2 capture technology should be capable of 90% or greater reduction in CO2 emissions per net kWh and result in less than a 20% increase in the cost of energy services.  The technology proposed should demonstrate the scale-up potential for application for coal-fired power plants that are 300 MW and higher.

Applications should provide a technical and economic comparative evaluation to current and emerging technologies that articulates how their technology will achieve the respective Sequestration Program cost and performance targets.  A systems and economic analysis based on NETL’s Carbon Capture and Sequestration Systems Analysis Guidelines (April 2005) and a commercialization roadmap for the proposed technology shall be required during the performance period.

Questions - contact José Figueroa (jose.figueroa@netl.doe.gov

b. Advanced Monitoring Technologies for Geologic CO2 Sequestration—Monitoring, mitigation, and verification (MM&V) is defined as the capability to measure the amount of CO2 stored at a specific sequestration site, monitor the site for leaks or other deterioration of storage integrity over time, and verify that the CO2 is stored in a way that is permanent.  Measurement technologies need to measure CO2 in the target formation, integrity of the cap rock, and leakage pathways and migration of CO2 through the overburden between the cap rock and an existing drinking water sources.  

Grant applications are sought for technologies that characterize a formation and overlying burden as a suitable sink and identify potential leakage points.  Technologies are also sought to monitor the fate of CO2 within the geologic formation that will be used as potential sinks to identify possible migration of CO2 through the existing overburden to potential drinking water sources or the surface.  Approaches of interest include, but are not limited to advancements in surface-to-borehole seismic, micro-seismic, cross-well electromagnetic, electrical resistance tomography, water chemistry, passive pressure and seismic sensors.  In addition, advances in technologies to automate the interpretation of the results from these measurement technologies are sought to speed decision making, conduct multivariate analysis, and/or interpret the response from the technologies that characterize the phase of CO2 and leakage points

Questions – contact John Li tynski (john.litynski@netl.doe.gov)

References:

Subtopic a:  Breakthrough Performance Improvements on Supporting Systems for Post Combustion CO2 Capture

1.      “Carbon Sequestration Technology Roadmap and Program Plan – 2006,” U.S. DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), May 2005.  (Full-text available at:  http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/sequestration/publications/.  Click on title that islocated under “Program Plans”.)

2.      “Carbon Capture and Sequestration Systems Analysis Guidelines – 2005,” U.S. DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), April 2005.  (Full-text available at:  http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/Resources/Analysis/pubs/CO2CaptureGuidelines.pdf)

3.      “Oxy Combustion Processes for CO2 Capture from Power Plant,” IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Program, July 2005.  (Report Number 2005/9) (Available by request.  See:  http://www.ccsd.biz/publications/ieacleancoal.cfm?PubID=675)

4.      “Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2004,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, April 15, 2006 .  (Full text available at:  http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/ResourceCenterPublicationsGHGEmissionsUSEmissionsInventory2006.html)

     Subtopic b:  Advanced Monitoring Technologies for Geologic CO2 Sequestration

5.      “Carbon Capture and Sequestration Systems Analysis Guidelines – 2005,” U.S. DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), April 2005.  (Full-text available at:  http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/carbon_seq/Resources/Analysis/pubs/CO2CaptureGuidelines.pdf)

6.      Vine, E. and Sathaye, J., “The Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, and Verification of Climate Change Mitigation Projects:  Discussion of Issues and Methodologies and Review of Existing Protocols and Guidelines,” prepared for U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency, Berkeley, CA:  Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, December 1997.  (Full text available at:  http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/ResourceCenterPublicationsReferenceMERVCReportMethods.html)

 

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