Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 4.3
Options for end-storage of sequestered carbon dioxide.
until it is actually available to commercial installations. Currently only studies and
prototype facilities exist. Commercial introduction is envisaged for the year 2020
(Vattenfall Europe, 2006). However, those promoting climate protection are
demanding carbon dioxide savings of 40 to 50% by that time. Just from the stand-
point of time this will not be possible with carbon dioxide sequestration. Furthermore
it will be very diffi cult - if even possible - to upgrade the old power plants that
would have been built in the meantime.
Carbon Dioxide-Free Coal-Fired Power Plants - Not Really Free
of Carbon Dioxide
With the development of technologies for the sequestration and storage of
carbon dioxide, grandiose claims are made that power plants will one day be
carbon dioxide-free. Strictly speaking, however, even carbon dioxide retention tech-
niques can never make a fossil power plant free of carbon dioxide. The burning of fossil
energy sources in these power plants inevitably produces carbon dioxide. So-called
carbon dioxide-free fossil power plants only separate carbon dioxide from other combus-
tion gases so that it can be stored ultimately in a concentrated form outside the atmos-
phere. Carbon dioxide also escapes inadvertently during fuel processing, sequestration
and storage. In the long term up to 10% of carbon dioxide, and in individual cases even
more, reaches the atmosphere again.
The term ' carbon dioxide - free coal - fi red power plant' is therefore misleading. A company
in the solar sector actually sued an energy supply company for misrepresentation over
its claims that carbon dioxide-free power plants were being built in Germany. The court
ruled in favour of the solar company. Whether or not fossil power plants with carbon
dioxide separation are carbon dioxide-free in legal terms is likely to be examined by
other authorities.
