Carbon capture and storage – not all that it’s cracked up to be.
Carbon capture has been heralded by some as an important technological solution to the climate crisis. The Ferret, 8 Nov 21
As COP26 continues in Glasgow, the potential impact of carbon capture and storage in reducing emissions is in the spotlight.
Ferret Fact Service looked at how it works, and whether carbon capture is actually a viable solution…………
According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, there are currently 26 large-scale carbon capture projects in use globally, with 34 more in different stages of development.
What are the drawbacks of carbon capture?
Some environmental campaigners have raised questions about the technology.
One issue is the slow progress in getting carbon capture facilities ready. While it has been trumpeted as one of the major tech solutions for the climate crisis, the amount of CO2 currently captured by CCS is small.
Currently operating CCS facilities have the capacity to capture about 40 million tonnes of CO2 each year. The latest global figure for fossil fuel CO2 emissions (2020) was 34 billion tonnes.
Many countries’ climate change plans rely heavily on carbon capture, but some analysts have questioned whether this is a realistic and effective use of environmental budgets that could be spent on renewable energy sources, for example.
The cost of carbon capture development and getting CCS facilities to commercial levels has been criticised.
Another issue is that most of the carbon capture projects won’t be in operation until the next decade. Scientists say significant carbon reductions are required this decade if the world is to reduce global temperature increase.
Currently, much of the carbon captured is being used in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). This is where oil companies use CO2 to obtain oil from previously unreachable reservoirs. Critics argue that this actually exacerbates overall climate change, as it allows more oil to be accessed which is then burned, adding to emissions, despite reducing carbon released during extraction.
There are also fears that carbon capture will be used as a way for countries with heavy fossil fuel production to continue to extract and sell them, which would hamper global attempts to reduce emissions.
Fears have been raised of the potential danger of CO2 leaking from the underground areas it is stored, either gradually or suddenly……… https://theferret.scot/ffs-explains-carbon-capture-storage/
Finland’s Greens remain anti-nuclear, despite antics of a breakaway group
‘Which greens, there’s two? One carrying the original Green message, of the 1970s, egalitarian, social democracy, adopted by all other European countries.Green League – The Greens” Known throughout Europe, as the European Greens• Finnish: Vihreä liitto• Swedish: Gröna förbundet
— Paul RichardsNuclear Fuel Cycle Watch Australia, 11 Nov 21, Finland greens are reported to have switched to pro-nuclear power
The other, pro-nuclear group, broke away, branding itself green. Much like the Liberal Party, in Australia, who are hard-right, neocon and neoliberal.Liberal by brand, conservative by demonstrated values. A long con, that thoroughly confuses the Republican idiocracy in the US. A group, who think liberals are, communists. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1021186047913052
NSW formally declares Australia’s first Renewable Energy Zone — RenewEconomy
NSW takes another step towards achieving its renewable energy ambitions, formally declaring its first Renewable Energy Zone. The post NSW formally declares Australia’s first Renewable Energy Zone appeared first on RenewEconomy.
NSW formally declares Australia’s first Renewable Energy Zone — RenewEconomy
Agency to phase out health care aid for evacuees in Fukushima — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
A house is torn down after it was left vacant by its occupants in Futaba, a town co-hosting the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, in July 2021. November 10, 2021 The agency spearheading rebuilding efforts stemming from the Fukushima nuclear disaster is now in talks with local authorities about phasing out assistance programs to help […]
Agency to phase out health care aid for evacuees in Fukushima — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
November 10 Energy News — geoharvey
Opinion: ¶ “You Can’t Crop An Entire Continent Out Of The Fight Against Climate Crisis” • In Uganda, it used to be that few people really talked about climate change. It was taught in school as if it were a far-off threat. Now, Africans are losing their incomes, and even their lives, but the entire […]
November 10 Energy News — geoharvey
Pacific concerns over plans to release contaminated water from Fukushima — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
9 nov. 2021 Pacific leaders are concerned over a plan to release contaminated water from the earthquake-damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant, into the ocean.
Pacific concerns over plans to release contaminated water from Fukushima — Fukushima 311 Watchdogs
Angus Taylor launches fresh attempt to use clean energy body to fund CCS projects — RenewEconomy
Morrison government will again try to overhaul a key clean energy fund in attempt to direct $500 million to CCS and ‘low emissions’ tech. The post Angus Taylor launches fresh attempt to use clean energy body to fund CCS projects appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Angus Taylor launches fresh attempt to use clean energy body to fund CCS projects — RenewEconomy
Glasgow Brief: World to exceed 2°C warming, Australia’s EV “inaction” plan mocked — RenewEconomy
Australia ranked last for climate policies, gets another ‘fossil’ award for EV “inaction” plan, as new report finds COP26 pledges would push world beyond 2°C. The post Glasgow Brief: World to exceed 2°C warming, Australia’s EV “inaction” plan mocked appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Glasgow Brief: World to exceed 2°C warming, Australia’s EV “inaction” plan mocked — RenewEconomy
In Wales, strong opposition to UK plan for small nuclear reactors – too slow, dangerous, super costly compared to quick cheap renewables.
Nuclear set to return to Wylfa and Trawsfynydd as Rolls-Royce secures funding for mini-reactors. Nuclear power looks set to return to Wales after Rolls-Royce secured £450m for a venture to build mini nuclear reactors. Trawsfynydd and Wylfa are understood to be two of the sites being lined up for the multi-billion pound mini-power stations.The company hopes to build five by 2031, and then another eleven in the years that follow.
The UK Government have announced that they will match a £245m investment made by a consortium made up of Rolls-Royce, BNF Resources and the US generator Exelon Generation with £210 of their own. Rolls-Royce has previously said that there was a “pretty high probability” Trawsfynydd could house the first reactor by the early 2030s.
Plans for new nuclear reactors have however already attracted opposition in Wales. Anti-nuclear groups have already criticised the plans, saying that the emphasis should be placed on green renewable energy instead. Dylan Morgan of PAWB (People Against Wylfa B) said last month: “We have an immediate crisis now. Building huge reactors at a nuclear power station take at least 15 years. “Nuclear power is slow, dangerous and extortionately expensive.
It will do nothing to address the current energy crisis, neither will it be effective to counter climate change.
“The UK and Welsh governments should divert resources and support away from wasteful and outdated nuclear power projects towards developing renewable technologies that are much cheaper and can provide faster and more sustainable solutions to the energy crisis and the challenges of climate change.”
Nation Cymru 9th Nov 2021
https://nation.cymru/news/nuclear-set-to-return-to-wylfa-and-trawsfynydd-as-rolls-royce-secures-funding-for-mini-reactors/
Greta Thunberg and youth activists filing legal petition to UN, urging for a declaration of “system-wide climate emergency”
Greta Thunberg and youth climate activists from around the world are
filing a legal petition to the UN secretary-general urging him to declare a
“system-wide climate emergency”. As Cop26 enters its final days,
climate campaigners were due to file a legal document on Wednesday calling
on António Guterres to use emergency powers to match the level of response
adopted for the coronavirus pandemic by pronouncing the climate crisis a
global level 3 emergency – the UN’s highest category.
Guardian 10th Nov 2021
A draft ”cover decision” sets out potential outcome from COP26 climate summit
A draft “cover decision” setting out the potential outcome from the Cop26 climate summit has been published by the UK presidency of the talks.
The document urges countries to “revisit and strengthen” their domestic climate pledges for 2030 by the end of next year to try to give the world a
better chance of limiting global heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, the aspiration of the Paris Agreement. It says that meeting the 1.5C goal needs meaningful and effective action in “this critical
decade”.
Independent 10th Nov 2021
https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/cop26-glasgow-global-warming-goal-b1954893.html
The consortium wanting to develop UK’s min-nuclear plants will have to rely on tax-payer funding.
State support a fallback option for UK’s mini-nuclear plants rollout.
The head of the consortium, which is developing a £ 30 billion fleet of mini-nuclear power stations, has indicated that it will have to rely on UK taxpayers to help fund the construction of the first of the new designs if there is not enough investor interest. Kwasi Kwarteng, business secretary, confirmed on Tuesday that the government is committed to £ 210 million in state funding to a Rolls-Royce-led consortium developing a new generation of small modular reactors (SMRs) as part of a new push into nuclear power
to help achieve the UK’s net zero target.
The government has previously seen that it was prepared to approve up to £ 2 billion in state funding to help start the program, which envisages the construction of at least 16 SMR power stations. Consortium chief executive Tom Samson told the Financial
Times that he had held talks with the government on the possibility of “putting in part of the cost for the first three or four units and then using it as a way to exploit private capital”.
Samson declined to comment on the potential scope of any further government investment and stressed that while it is an option, the aim was to “move forward in line with the
technology that requires the least government funding”. He added: “It is our duty to bring this story to the [capital] markets.”. The first five SMR power stations would cost £ 2.2bn each, with the price of subsequent units dropping to £ 1.8bn, according to Rolls-Royce. The consortium is looking to build the plants at operational and mothballs nuclear power plants in Britain.
FT 10th Nov 2021
https://www.ft.com/content/869279aa-f771-4025-8719-c3b8bdf1f375
“Unacceptably risky:” Morrison’s climate creep leaves clean energy investors cold — RenewEconomy
Renewable energy investors say Australia is still an “unacceptably risky market,” despite federal government’s net-zero pledge. The post “Unacceptably risky:” Morrison’s climate creep leaves clean energy investors cold appeared first on RenewEconomy.
“Unacceptably risky:” Morrison’s climate creep leaves clean energy investors cold — RenewEconomy
Scott Morrison’s hopeless spin and failure on electric vehicles — RenewEconomy
Scott Morrison’s electric vehicle strategy has completely missed the bus. Little wonder that it was launched at a hydrogen refuelling station. The post Scott Morrison’s hopeless spin and failure on electric vehicles appeared first on RenewEconomy.
Scott Morrison’s hopeless spin and failure on electric vehicles — RenewEconomy
1 This month.
20 September –National Day of Action in Melbourne on the International Day of Peace
Help Aunty Sue Protect Her Land and Sacred Sites From Destructive Rocket Testing.
.
Australians deserve the truth
about
AUKUS – https://aukuspublicinquiry.com/
PETITION – To: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Government
of the week – Australians for War Powers Reform (AWPR)
To see nuclear-related stories in greater depth and intensity
Antinuclear 