old but new…new but old modified conventional energy technologies and “bridging” technologies
TRANSCRIPT
Old but New…New but OldModified Conventional Energy Technologies
And“Bridging” Technologies
Modified Technologies• Carbon Capture and
Sequestration– Burn coal – Capture all CO 2
emissions– Sequester CO2
emissions by pumping into• The ground• Caves• Oil wells • The Deep Ocean
Other Methods of Carbon Storage
• Bio-storage– Grow stuff and
bury it
• Mineral storage– Make
Limestone
CCS: Does it really work?
• “Pilot Plants” in operation
• Questions about “submerged” lifetime
• No long term data• Requires extra energy
(25%-40%)• Acidify the oceans?• Takes too long to grow
stuff• Takes too long to make
limestone and too much energy, even though its exothermic
• Cost?• Stay tuned!!
Nukes: Good, Bad, or Bridging?• Works really well• Proven Technology• Reliable• Continuous; day or
night, rain or shine• Excellent Base load
power source• Zero GHG• Huge resource
Nukes: Good, Bad, or Bridging?• Nuclear Proliferation• Terrorism• Accidents– TMI– Chernobyl
• Long Term Storage of High Level Waste
• Expense?• Mining and other
environmental impacts?
Nukes and Energy Independence
Hydro-Electric• Zero GHG• “Renewable”• Excellent base load
power• Proven Technology• Minimal Accident
Risk• Flood control• Relatively
inexpensive operating costs (compared to what?)
Hydro-electric• Lots of land– Displaced people– Displaced species
• Large environmental impact
• Limited number of suitable locations
• Limited resource• Large initial
investment (compared to what?)