By Thomas Miner

June 1, 2010 – A leading British energy institution, The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), has begun to study technologies that could economically capture and store carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from sources such as small power plants, industrial facilities or large power stations and to turn it into solid bricks.
 
The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), a UK based company formed from global industries and the UK Government, plans to study technologies for the mineralization of CO2 and other opportunities for value added use of resulting carbonate products.
 
At present, the leading technology for carbon capture and storage (CCS) involves capturing carbon dioxide gas then storing it underground in oil and gas reservoirs and other porous areas.
 
ETI already is trying to estimate how much geologic storage space is available around the country, given the risk that potential sites may be insufficient in volume, uneconomic or impractical. Turning carbon dioxide gas into solid products may be a reasonable option.
 
Minerals and CO2 can react together to permanently store CO2 as a solid carbonate product, which can then be safely stored, used as an aggregate or turned into useful end products such as bricks or filler for concrete.
 
A research consortium led by Caterpillar and including Shell, the British Geological Survey, and the Centre for Innovation in Carbon Capture and Storage at the University of Nottingham, was selected to carry out this £1M project.
 
The study will provide a detailed assessment of the distribution of suitable materials together with an estimate of how much of these could practically be used and ultimately provide an indication of the economics of CO2 capture by mineralization.
 
It will also identify the technologies that could be developed to meet the UK requirements and determine the viability of mineralization compared to traditional CCS approaches.
 
ETI Chief Executive Dr David Clarke said: "Much of the research in this field has concentrated on the chemistry involved. The ETI is looking at the opportunity to develop system solutions and identify the necessary technologies.
 
Caterpillar's director of research, John Amdall commented that "CO2 mineralization permanently stores CO2 and has the potential for use in both large and small applications. Mineralization also offers the potential of dramatically reducing the energy requirements and infrastructure requirements for CO2 capture and storage, thus making it a cost effective possibility for CCS.
 
The ETI brings together the complementary capabilities of global industrial groups - BP, Caterpillar, EDF Energy, E.ON, Rolls-Royce and Shell - in a unique approach with the UK government. Operating at a national strategic level it is delivering large scale complex engineering solutions for the UK energy system helping to meet 2050 challenges.
 
The ETI also developed its unique Energy System Model to help identify those technologies capable of having the greatest impact through to 2050 under a range of different demand scenarios. Already in 2010 the ETI has announced a further £3.5m of projects in offshore wind, distributed energy and transport.
 
The Energy Technologies Institute brings together projects and partnerships that create affordable, reliable, clean energy for heat, power and transport. For more information, please go to: http://www.energytechnologies.co.uk/
 
Source: GLOBE-Net