Clean Energy, Climate and Carbon (Hardcover)

CONTENTSPrefaceAcknowledgements1 The contextClimate change science: the controversiesGlobal and national efforts to take action on climate changeAbout this book2 CO2 and climate changeGreenhouse gasesThe nature of carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide and earth’s historyWeather versus climateCauses of pre-human climate changeDistinguishing natural climate change from anthropogenic climate changeSea level change as evidence for global warmingGlobal warming and extreme weather eventsAct now or later?Conclusions 3 Where and why are we producing so much CO2 ?The production and use of energy and its impacts on CO2 emissions: an overviewThe use of fossil fuelsTwo key sectors: electricity production and transportConclusions 4 Technology options for decreasing CO2 emissionsSolar energyWind powerHydroelectric powerOcean energyBiomassGeothermal energyNuclear powerSequestering CO2 through carbon capture and storage (CCS)Conclusion 5 The mitigation mixPopulation growth and the energy mixBiofuels in the mixLand requirements of different technologiesEnergy and waterRenewable energy in the energy mixNon renewable energy in the energy mixThe energy mix in the medium to long termConclusions 6 Where and how can we capture CO2 ?Directly removing CO2 from the atmosphereCapturing CO2 emitted from various sourcesCCS and gas productionCCS and coal and gas-fired power generationPost combustion captureCCS and gasificationCCS and industrial processes emitting CO2 Technologies for separating CO2 from emissionsConclusions 7 How can we transport CO2 ?Key issues in transportation of CO2 via pipelinesCO2 transportation by road, rail and seaReducing transportation costs: CO2 hubsConclusion 8 Storing CO2 Why geological storage over other forms of storage?Identifying suitable geological CO2 storage sites: sedimentary basinsFeatures of a sedimentary basin that may make it suitable for storageStorage of CO2 in depleted oil and gas fieldsStorage in deep saline aquifersStorage in coalsStorage in basaltsStorage in serpentinitesAssessing storage capacityNational assessments of storage potentialConclusions 9 How do we know CCS will be effective?The nature of risk assessmentGeological riskExisting natural gas storage facilitiesNatural accumulations of CO2 Knowledge derived from large scale commercial CO2 storage projectsLocation-specific risk assessment: characterising the siteThe risks of earthquakesThe risk to groundwaterMonitoringThe regulatory regimeA ‘social licence’ for CCS? 10 The cost of clean energyThe interplay of costsThe costs of capturing CO2 emissions from non-power sourceTransport and associated costsStorage costs Indicative total costs for CCS Cost estimates derived from operational CCS activities Costing uncertainty Comparison costing Conclusions 11 The technology and the politics of clean energy Future strategies in a carbon constrained world Achieving emissions reductions targets CCS in the clean energy mix The policy settings The impact of pricing carbon on clean energy technology uptakeConclusions Acronyms Additional general reading References to data sources Index