Project aims to extract dam methane (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Tim Hirsch
Sao Paulo, Brazil

Scientists in Brazil have claimed that a major source of greenhouse gas emissions could be curbed by capturing and burning methane given off by large hydro-electric dams.

The team at the country's National Space Research Institute (INPE) is developing prototype equipment designed to stop the greenhouse gas from entering the atmosphere.

The technology will extract the methane from the water to supplement the energy produced by the dam turbines.

The scientists estimate that worldwide the technique could prevent emissions equivalent to more than the total annual burning of fossil fuels in the UK - and reduce the pressure to build new dams in sensitive areas such as the Amazon.
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Critics of the industry have claimed that in tropical areas of Brazil - which supplies more than 90% of its electricity from large dams - some reservoirs emit so much methane that their contribution to climate change is greater than an equivalent power station burning fossil fuels like coal or gas.


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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6638705.stm

Dams produce methane? :wow::wow::wow: (in best Johny Carson voice) I did not know that!

Kudos to these guys for doing some serious, insightful thinking, and following up with the "detail work" that is necessary to bring a good idea to fruition.

This is a reasonably long article (well, it IS the BBC) and worth a read-through.

[kestrel91316]

1. Should read: RESERVOIRS produce methane.

[Thor_MN]

2. Or Dams release methane

[july302001]

3. Dam vegetation!

The methane comes from that dam nasty rotting vegetation at the bottom of the reservoir behind the dam concrete impoundment.

There! I got out my anger for today!

:silly:

[razzleberry]

4. this is a carbon-offset-scam, in the works ...

edit, adding the following...

obviously, the methane can be purchased
from the local natural-gas company,
and added to the water,

then recovered, for an offset

there is no end to man's inginuity

[Nihil]

5. Read the article and quit the BS.

Methane is being PRODUCED at the bottom of every reservoir every day.
This has been happening shortly after the first reservoir was created
as it is a totally natural process.

This plan - though not perfect by any means - is a means of reducing
the global warming being caused now by this natural process.
It is not one of the many "carbon offset" scams that are being proposed.

Take off the tin hat once in a while.