Putting Carbon Back Where We Found It

                                    

I’m often asked about the emerging technology to capture and store carbon. That is, what happens to the carbon emissions that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere?

Well, a good way to think about this is to remember the advice that our parents gave us as children: “If you take something out, remember to put it back where you found it.”

The CO2 comes from the ground, where it is locked inside the coal. When we burn the coal to make electricity, the CO2 is released. New technology will allow us to capture that CO2 before it enters the atmosphere and then — as our parents told us — put it back in the ground where we found it.

Will this really work? Yes, but there is still work to be done on how to ensure that the CO2 stays in the ground.

Developments in this area are popping up every day. For example, the March issue of Discovery magazine talks about research in England on permanent carbon storage.

The magazine says researchers at the University of Leeds believe sandstone could rapidly absorb CO2 and provide a safe, leakproof reservoir.

“Porous, feldspar-rich sandstone formations are abundant worldwide,” the article says.

The National Resources Defense council is on board with carbon capture and storage… maybe this new development will win over the remaining detractors.

In the meantime, it is precisely why the U.S. government should invest in more research — new technologies are emerging all the time and we have to help them along.