Benson Discusses Carbon Sequestration at AAAS Conference

Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) involves separating carbon dioxide from the effluent of a power plant, compressing it, and then injecting it into a deep underground geological formation for storage over geologic time periods.

"Carbon dioxide capture and storage is needed to avoid harmful effects of carbon dioxide emissions from current and projected coal fired generating capacity," said Benson. "Coal provides more than 50% of the electricity in the U.S., and coal use in the U.S. is expected to grow."

Benson added that there are currently three projects that are storing carbon dioxide in deep geological formations, and several more are planned. In addition, experience with acid-gas injection, carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery, and natural gas storage indicates that long-term storage should be possible if the sites are carefully selected, operated and monitored.

The technology may play an important role in the coal-rich regions of the world, including North America, China, India and Australia. Over the next several decades, more than 1300 gigawatts of new coal-based power plant capacity is anticipated, resulting in lifetime emissions of 735 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. Without carbon dioxide capture and storage, operation of these plants will make it very difficult to stabilize atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations at levels believed to be low enough to avoid serious climate and ecosystem impacts.