Britain Unveils Plan To Beat Global Warming Through 'Carbon Capture'

June 14, 2005

Britain is to study whether global warming can be curbed by "capturing" carbon dioxide from power stations and storing it underground in oil and gas fields.

The government has committed 40 million pounds (60 million euros, 72 million dollars) for research on the technology, known as the carbon sequestration, or carbon capture.

The method should be operational within a decade and could eventually prove a major export earner for Britain as other countries begin to adopt climate change. The theory is that fossil fuel power stations, oil rigs and other energy burners would hold on to waste gases such as the carbon dioxide and methane, rather than releasing them into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide and methane are among what are known as greenhouse gases, increased concentrations of which in the earth's atmosphere had been blamed by scientists for global warming.

Under the British plan, the captured gases would be pumped underground into spent oil and gas fields. Energy minister Malcom Wicks said that it is crucial to take tougher actions and to support emerging technologies that will enable the human race to burn coal and gas more cleanly in order to attain their ambitious target of cutting carbon emissions by 60% in 2050. Carbon capture could reduce emissions from power plants by up to 85% , he added.

Tony Juniper, director of environment group Friends of the Earth, welcomed the initiative but warned that there were "many challengers" ahead. Questions such as the sufficiency of the geological deposits that can keep the gas out of the atmosphere for over a long period and whether they can get there effectively and also, could they possibly transport it in a way that is technically feasible, were all raised. And not forgetting, the most profound question is " what is going to be the cost of implementing this technology?"