Talk:Carbon capture and storage

Notes from a recent article on concerns over the water usage of CCS- from March 11, 2009- E&E news

Carl Bauer, director of the Energy Department's National Energy Technology Laboratory, warned that carbon capture technology in particular could have drastic implications for freshwater resources if it is not improved. He emphasized the need for additional research to advance carbon capture and water management technologies.

Lawmakers also expressed concern about the current water costs of carbon capture technology. "We can develop all the zero-carbon technologies we want, but without a reliable supply of water, they amount to nothing," Murkowski said.

Other efforts to reduce carbon emissions also present problems. Building additional nuclear power plants could increase water consumption, Bauer said, noting that they consume 40 percent more water than equivalent contemporary subcritical pulverized coal technology. Water cooling technology options can help decrease water use at nuclear plants, but often increase power costs.

On the other hand, adding near-commercial carbon capture and storage technology to pulverized coal plants in order to capture 90 percent of carbon emissions would more than double the amount of water used per unit of electricity generated.

"Advanced technology coal plants offer the opportunity to significantly reduce the consumptive footprint, with integrated gasification combined cycle technologies," Bauer said.

Stephen Bolze, president and CEO of power and water for GE Energy, noted that industry is responsible for 45 percent of all water withdrawals in the United States and said he expects to see the United States' energy demand double and water demand triple over the next 20 years. Faced with declining resources, he said industry, the federal government and public entities should work together to make reusing water cost-effective.