Abby L. Harvey
GHG Monitor
5/16/2014
Carbon capture and sequestration technology could be “turn-key” ready for power plants by 2030, if the United States is able to overcome the challenges posed by the current lack of large-scale CCS projects, which has hindered the adoption of the technology in recent years, Julio Friedmann, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy for Clean Coal, said at a forum hosted by the Global CCS Institute (GCCSI) and the Atlantic Council this week. Friedmann noted that CCS is done at a smaller-scale in industry across the country and around the world currently. However, the technology as it applies to power generation is not a “low-cost, turn-key operation,” at this point, he said, adding that the “valley of death” on the path to the realization of the “turn-key” goal is the deployment of the technology in large-scale pilot projects.
Patrick Falwell, solutions fellow at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), echoed that sentiment, saying the development of CCS is not on track and that to avoid to significant climate impacts, 100 CCS plants need to be operating by 2020. A key to fast-tracking this technology, Falwell said, is to harness the cost benefits of enhanced oil recovery which can generate substantial revenue and help offset the cost of the CCS technology. Falwell said that while many people see CO2 only as a waste, it can also be a commodity as the EOR industry needs more of the gas.
Kemper Important Learning Tool, Exec. Says
Karl Moor, Senior Vice President and Chief Environmental Council for Southern Company noted at the meeting that while Southern Company does not like the performance standards for coal-fired power plants being proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which largely mandate CCS as a means to lower carbon emissions, the company has pioneered the first-of-its-kind Kemper County Energy Facility regardless. The project, when completed, will utilize state-of-the-art coal gasification and CCS technology to burn “dirty” lignite coal with emissions equal to that of a gas-fired power plant. The project has been plagued with delays and cost overruns but while progress has been difficult, Southern hopes the benefits of the lessons learned at Kemper will help drive further development of CCS, Moor said.
Moor said he believes that Kemper will not be the last-of-its-kind and moving forward the experience and information gained from the project will drive down costs of future plants as “that’s the story of engineering.” Developing a demonstration for new, complex technology like CCS takes a 20-30 year commitment, Moor said, “It’s not for the faint of heart … despite the slight tremor in my hand, the engineers at Southern. Co. will find a way to change the world.”
