Clean Coal Technology Essay Example

through advertisements. Furthermore, they claim to have directed over $50 billion in the last 30 years into the growth and implementation of standard clean coal technologies. Additionally, they pledge $500 million towards research and development in carbon capture and storage.

In Spremberg, Germany, the world's inaugural "clean coal" power plant began its operations in September 2008. This state-owned facility was established by Vattenfall, a Swedish company. The high expenditures associated with this technology make it less appealing to private investors who favor alternative energy sources like nuclear, solar, and wind. The power plant is designed to capture CO2 and acid rain generating sulfides, isolate the two, then condense the CO2 until liquified. Future strategies involve injecting this liquid CO2 into exhausted natural gas fields or similar geological formations.

While the mentioned technology isn't seen as a definitive solution for lowering atmospheric CO2 concentrations, it does provide an applicable interim solution as economically feasible power generation alternatives are in progress. Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is the latest development in "clean coal" advancements. However, the application of "clean coal" term is frequently challenged by professionals specializing in CCS and is also strongly contested by environmental organizations who promote CCS.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology is used to seize carbon dioxide from various sources, transform it into a near-liquid state, and perpetually bury it beneath the earth's surface. At present, the U.S has over 80 ongoing CCS projects. Every aspect of this system has been in use for many years alongside improved oil recovery and other diverse applications. Extensive commercial trials of CCS are happening not just within the U.S but globally as well.

Potential CCS locations undergo thorough scrutiny

and oversight to guard against possible threats such as the escape of stored CO2 into the atmosphere, instigation of geological instability, or pollution of aquifers that provide drinking water. Advocates of clean coal cite the Great Plains Synfuels plant as evidence of the technical viability of carbon dioxide sequestration. They ship carbon dioxide from coal gasification to Canada, where it's injected into the ground to assist in oil extraction. However, advocates concede that carbon capture is a costly process.