Clean-Coal Debut in Germany

Comments

• Interested bpg131313 on 09/19/2008 at 1:09 PM

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  While I am not convinced that this solution is one that will be safe in the long-term due to the unknowns surrounding subsurface injection of liquid CO2, I am nonetheless interested because the technology could turn out to be beneficial.  I look forward to this plant working over the years with all of the agencies and groups overseeing its progress.  If it fails, at least it'll be a relatively isolated failure in that there aren't many of these operations moving forward. I'll remain cautiously optimistic about this form of energy production until the world is able to see and verify data independently. Rate this comment: (Reply)

• CO2 used for algae/biofuel feedstock? jhalter@foster-miller.com on 09/19/2008 at 1:56 PM

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  Wouldn't a more practical application of the waste CO2 be for use as feedstock to algae used in biofuel generation?  BOTH electricity generation w/ CO2 capture, AND biofuel production would benefit from this 'clean' process.  I haven't even attempted the math of CO2 available from clean-coal vs algae for bio-fuel demand...so I may be a little off-base.  Either way, I'm just hoping to stir up discussion w/ expert opinion's on this matter. Rate this comment: (Reply)

  • 	Re: CO2 used for algae/biofuel feedstock? TooMany on 09/21/2008 at 5:37 PM
    Posts: 13 Avg Rating:	Recycling the carbon this way in effect uses solar engery.  The amount of energy should be comparible to the energy released by burning the coal.  I doubt that algae is extremely effecient at this so why not just use the solar power directly? Rate this comment: (Reply)

    • Re: CO2 used for algae/biofuel feedstock? JayDawg on 12/15/2008 at 1:57 PM

      Posts: 1

      You state that you doubt that algae is extremely efficient at energy conversion.  What information are your doubts based on?   As far as not just using the solar power directly,  the ability to store the solar energy is the same battery technology issue we have with plug in hybrids.  The beautiful thing about fuel creation is its ability to be transported and stored for later use. Rate this comment: (Reply)

• 	Algae oil zig158 on 09/20/2008 at 6:24 AM
  Posts: 64 Avg Rating:	Jhalter bet me to the punch, just think how fast algae would grow in 98% CO2. A full-scale clean coal plant could feed a very large bioreactor. I wonder if that has been their long-term plan from the start. Once all the technical problems are sorted out, you could make a killing selling all the oil. Rate this comment: (Reply)

• old king coal phoenix on 09/20/2008 at 10:31 AM

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  Although I am a little late posting to Fridays articles, (I have been a just a little busy in summation), I wonder why so many people are against giving coal, which has such abundant natural reserves and the potential to provide much needed electrical energy, a second look. If, as our other posters say, there is even more potential in CO2 capture to initiate such beneficial chemical reactions, the public should be made aware of the possiblities. The ensuing debate would certainly be interesting. Rate this comment: (Reply)

• 	energy losses nuubik on 09/22/2008 at 5:26 AM
  Posts: 2 Avg Rating:	There are visible losses in the system where excess heat is removed to cool the steam down. The heat, that is left over from steam turbines, should be used with maybe Stirling heat engines. This way the low-grade heat is also converted to mechanical energy  - just a thought ... Rate this comment: (Reply)

• 	¢/KWH - solar going to be cheaper? nekote on 09/22/2008 at 10:48 AM
  Posts: 122 Avg Rating:	¢/KWH Germany and Great Britain are among the most un-economic places, on the earth, for solar. http://www.oksolar.com/abctech/images/world_solar_radiation_large.gif Even so, is solar going to turn out to be cheaper? Rate this comment: (Reply)