Chu says Carbon capture coal tech must be ready by 2019

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE59B1UG20091012

Carbon capture coal tech must be ready by 2019: U.S.

Mon Oct 12, 2009 11:56am EDT

LONDON (Reuters) - A technology to bury underground the greenhouse gas emissions produced from burning coal must be ready for global deployment by 2017-2019, U.S. energy secretary Steven Chu said on Monday.

Coal is the world's single biggest source of carbon emissions, at 40 percent. Other sources included burning oil and natural gas, and deforestation and the production of cement.

Chu was optimistic about the prospects for carbon capture and storage (CCS), even though no commercial-scale plant is being built yet anywhere. He said that the United States could have 10 demonstration plants online by 2016.

Most analysts do not expect the technology to be widely available before 2020 at the earliest.

…

http://energy.gov/news2009/documents2009/Carbon_Sequestration_Leadership_Forum_Letter.pdf

http://energy.gov/news2009/8131.htm

October 13, 2009

Secretary Chu Announces Up to $55 Million in Funding to Develop Advanced Carbon Capture Technology at Existing Coal-Fired Power Plants

Funding Opportunity Announcement Solicits Proposals for Bench- through Pilot-Scale Projects

Washington, DC — U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that $55 million will be made available to develop advanced technologies that can capture carbon dioxide from flue gases at existing power plants so that the greenhouse gas may be sequestered or put to beneficial use. The funding announced today is a direct investment in carbon capture and storage related technologies that will support the Obama Administration’s effort to help mitigate the effects of CO2 – a major greenhouse gas and contributor to global climate change.

“Today’s announcement will not only help fight climate change, but also create new jobs and help position the United States as a leader in carbon capture and storage technologies for many years,” said Secretary Chu. “These technologies will not only give us a healthier planet, they will strengthen our economy and lay a foundation for a new generation of clean energy jobs."

Coal is one of the nation’s most abundant energy resources – supplying nearly 50 percent of domestic electricity. Secretary Chu sent a letter this week to world energy ministers and other scientific leaders calling for an aggressive global effort to advance carbon capture and sequestration technology to the point where widespread, affordable deployment can begin in 8 to 10 years. The funding announced today will support the development of technologies that can remove 90 percent of the CO2 in a flue gas stream at no more than a 35 percent increase in the cost of electricity.

The funding opportunity is seeking applications for bench- and pilot-scale projects in four areas of interest: membranes, solvents, solid sorbents, and condensed-phase capture. The solicitation is specifically focused on advanced technologies for post-combustion CO2 capture and purification that can be retrofitted to existing pulverized coal power plants.

Read information on these and other http://energy.gov/news2009/documents2009/FOA_0000131.pdf">Funding Opportunities.

Media contact(s):
[phone]

[villager]

1. $55 million? compared to how much for tax cuts for the rich, or war and killing everywhere?

n/t

[OKIsItJustMe]

2. I don't believe the DoE is in charge of “tax cuts for the rich, or war and killing everywhere”

If it's of any comfort, this is just a portion of the funding for research into Carbon Capture and Sequestration.

http://energy.gov/news2009/8102.htm

October 2, 2009

Secretary Chu Announces First Awards from $1.4 Billion for Industrial Carbon Capture and Storage Projects

Washington, DC - U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the first round of funding from $1.4 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the selection of 12 projects that will capture carbon dioxide from industrial sources for storage or beneficial use. The first phase of these projects will include $21.6 million in Recovery Act funding and $22.5 million in private funding for a total initial investment of $44.1 million. The remaining Recovery Act funding will be awarded to the most promising projects during a competitive phase two selection process.

"This is a major step forward in the fight to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from industrial plants. These new technologies will not only help fight climate change, they will create jobs now and help position the United States to lead the world in carbon dioxide capture technologies, which will only increase in demand in the years ahead," said Secretary Chu.

The successful development of advanced technologies and innovative concepts that reduce emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is a key objective of the Obama Administration's effort to help mitigate the effects of climate change. Carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas and contributor to global climate change.

Projects announced today include large-scale industrial carbon capture and storage projects that capture carbon dioxide emissions from industrial sources—such as cement plants, chemical plants, refineries, paper mills, and manufacturing facilities—and store the carbon dioxide in deep saline formations and other geologic systems.

The initial duration of each project selected is approximately seven months. Projects will be subject to further competitive evaluation in 2010 after successful completion of their Phase 1 activities. Projects that best demonstrate the ability to address theirmission needs will be in the final portfolio that will receive additional funding for design, construction, and operation.

…

[villager]

3. While I didn't think Chu sent back any extra trillions, it was a critique of the Federal government

at large, and their overall budget priorities, even with all these "changey" Democratic "majorities" running around...

[Nihil]

4. Coal chiefs rub their hands with glee ...

... at 8 more years of profits before retiring to their gated villas
in Paraguay or wherever.

Good job it isn't urgent or anything that could have a serious impact ...
he might have had to write *TWO* letters to fellow politicians who will
not be in power in 8-10 years time ...

:banghead:

[NickB79]

5. And only 25 years too late

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x213497

Ah well, it's been fun.