A world leading algal biofuel research and development facility that could hold the key to rapid reductions in carbon emissions from coal fired power stations has been opened at James Cook University in Townsville.
The algal carbon capture and storage (BIO-CCS) technology is already proving successful in trials and will soon be rolled out at three power stations including Tarong Power Station at Kingaroy.
Essentially, the algae eats the CO2 and excretes biofuel and stockfeed, so the CO2 is captured and turned into something that can be used.
The 5,000 square metre research plant has proven capable of producing 14,000 litres of oil and 25,000 of algal feed for livestock from every 100 tonnes of carbon consumed.
The company, MBD Energy, predicts the BIO-CCS technology will emerge as a viable CO2 abatement technology option for all existing coal and gas fired power stations, smelters and refineries around the world.
Company chairman, Jerry Ellis, says the technology has been designed to mimic the fundamental processes of the Earth’s carbon cycle, but it does the job in a matter of hours rather than millions of years.
luni, 28 decembrie 2009
Secret draft agreement rocks Copenhagen climate change talks
A "secret" draft agreement prepared by the Danish host government and a select "circle of commitment" including Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has been leaked at the Copenhagen climate change talks.
Parts of the proposal, which has allegedly been worked on by countries including the US, UK and Denmark, had been leaked during the week, however it has now been published in its entirety by the UK’s Guardian newspaper.
The Danish Government has denied it is a secret draft for a new Copenhagen Agreement, but rather “many working papers used for testing various positions”.
The document contains elements of a strong political deal, including a limit of warming to 2 degrees Celsius and - in brackets to acknowledge it is not yet fully agreed - the proposition that global emissions should peak in 2020.
It does not, however, set a timetable for a final binding agreement, nor specify that such an agreement should be in the form of a legally binding treaty, nor provide for a future role for the existing Kyoto Protocol. It also sidelines the United Nations in future climate change negotiations.
Instead it says the deal should lead to a “comprehensive legal framework” by an unspecified date. It allows developed nations to emit twice as much carbon dioxide as developing nations.
The climate change talks will continue until December 18th. The high-level summit, which will be attended by 100 of the world’s leaders, will take place on December 17th and 18th.
Parts of the proposal, which has allegedly been worked on by countries including the US, UK and Denmark, had been leaked during the week, however it has now been published in its entirety by the UK’s Guardian newspaper.
The Danish Government has denied it is a secret draft for a new Copenhagen Agreement, but rather “many working papers used for testing various positions”.
The document contains elements of a strong political deal, including a limit of warming to 2 degrees Celsius and - in brackets to acknowledge it is not yet fully agreed - the proposition that global emissions should peak in 2020.
It does not, however, set a timetable for a final binding agreement, nor specify that such an agreement should be in the form of a legally binding treaty, nor provide for a future role for the existing Kyoto Protocol. It also sidelines the United Nations in future climate change negotiations.
Instead it says the deal should lead to a “comprehensive legal framework” by an unspecified date. It allows developed nations to emit twice as much carbon dioxide as developing nations.
The climate change talks will continue until December 18th. The high-level summit, which will be attended by 100 of the world’s leaders, will take place on December 17th and 18th.
Costul angajamentelor de reducere a emisiilor de CO2
Costul pe care va trebui sa-l suporte Romania pentru a fi in conformitate cu angajamentele luate fata de Uniunea Europeana in materie de reducere a emisiilor de CO2 se ridica la 6,1 miliarde euro pana in 2015, si la 12,5 miliarde euro pana in 2020, arata un raport intocmit de Centru roman pentru politici europene (CRPE) citat de Agerpres.
Potrivit sursei citate, contributia consta, in principal, in cresterea cotei energiei regenerabile si proiecte de eficienta energetica in cladiri rezidentiale, industrie, transport.
Acelasi document avertiza recent ca o parte dintre unitatile de generare de energie electrica (Turceni, Rovinari etc.) va trebui sa fie inchise treptat din cauza emisiilor de azot si bioxid de sulf. Conditia ca aceste centre sa ramana deschise este legata direct de investitiile viitoare, pentru ca acestea sa functioneze „curat“.
„Valoarea totala a fondurilor UE disponibile pentru energie este de circa 700 milioane euro, in timp ce investitiile necesare in productia de energie electrica ar fi de pana la 35 de miliarde de euro in urmatorii 10 ani, doar pentru a aduce generarea de energie termica la standardele de eficienta si emisie internationale“, se arata in raportul citat.
Conform CRPE, desi investitorii s-au inscris la privatizarea productiei de energie electrica inca din anul 2004, executivul a oprit complet orice astfel de idei in 2005 si „nu intentioneaza sa vanda productia de energie electrica in viitorul apropiat, in ciuda angajamentelor din Energy Road Map 2003-2013, cand s-a negociat Capitolul 14 Energie in vederea aderarea la UE“.
In privinta reducerii emisiilor de gaze cu efect de sera, studiul remarca angajamentul luat de Romania in conformitate cu Protocolul de la Kyoto, prin care suntem obligati sa micsoram cantitatea de astfel de emisii cu 8% pana in 2012, fata de 1989. Cu alte cuvinte, Romaniei ii este permis sa produca 1,279 miliarde tone bioxid de carbon (CO2) in perioada 2008-2012.
Romania, care domina Europa, alaturi de Germania si Polonia, in privinta ponderii cantitatii mici de CO2, beneficiaza de „drepturi de poluare“, numite unitati ale cantitatilor atribuite (AAU).
In prezent, tara noastra are dreptul sa aiba aproximativ 350 milioane de AAU ce pot fi vandute altor tari (Japonia, state din Europa de Vest).
„In ultimii ani, guvernul roman a fost indecis in privinta celor doua optiuni. Acum, guvernul se confrunta cu o alegere dificila: sa vanda AAU la un pret scazut in lunile urmatoare (dupa ce legislatia necesara este adoptata), sau sa riste sa le piarda cu totul, daca un nou acord international post-Kyoto nu va permite ca AAU sa fie reportate dupa 2012“, se arata in raportul CRPE.
In prezent, din pricina acestor ezitari, dar si a scaderii preturilor din piata, autoritatile romane spera sa obtina aproximativ 8-10 euro/tona.
Romania, una dintre tarile care participa la sistemul european de tranzactionare a cotelor emisiilor de bioxid de carbon, in urma Protocolului de la Kyoto, s-a clasat in 2008 pe locul noua in Uniunea Europeana dupa cotele alocate, respectiv 70,65 milioane tone CO2 echivalent, potrivit datelor Comisiei europene. Emisiile de bioxid de carbon verificate ale Romaniei au scazut in 2008 cu 8,7% fata de 2007, la 63,5 milioane tone.
Potrivit sursei citate, contributia consta, in principal, in cresterea cotei energiei regenerabile si proiecte de eficienta energetica in cladiri rezidentiale, industrie, transport.
Acelasi document avertiza recent ca o parte dintre unitatile de generare de energie electrica (Turceni, Rovinari etc.) va trebui sa fie inchise treptat din cauza emisiilor de azot si bioxid de sulf. Conditia ca aceste centre sa ramana deschise este legata direct de investitiile viitoare, pentru ca acestea sa functioneze „curat“.
„Valoarea totala a fondurilor UE disponibile pentru energie este de circa 700 milioane euro, in timp ce investitiile necesare in productia de energie electrica ar fi de pana la 35 de miliarde de euro in urmatorii 10 ani, doar pentru a aduce generarea de energie termica la standardele de eficienta si emisie internationale“, se arata in raportul citat.
Conform CRPE, desi investitorii s-au inscris la privatizarea productiei de energie electrica inca din anul 2004, executivul a oprit complet orice astfel de idei in 2005 si „nu intentioneaza sa vanda productia de energie electrica in viitorul apropiat, in ciuda angajamentelor din Energy Road Map 2003-2013, cand s-a negociat Capitolul 14 Energie in vederea aderarea la UE“.
In privinta reducerii emisiilor de gaze cu efect de sera, studiul remarca angajamentul luat de Romania in conformitate cu Protocolul de la Kyoto, prin care suntem obligati sa micsoram cantitatea de astfel de emisii cu 8% pana in 2012, fata de 1989. Cu alte cuvinte, Romaniei ii este permis sa produca 1,279 miliarde tone bioxid de carbon (CO2) in perioada 2008-2012.
Romania, care domina Europa, alaturi de Germania si Polonia, in privinta ponderii cantitatii mici de CO2, beneficiaza de „drepturi de poluare“, numite unitati ale cantitatilor atribuite (AAU).
In prezent, tara noastra are dreptul sa aiba aproximativ 350 milioane de AAU ce pot fi vandute altor tari (Japonia, state din Europa de Vest).
„In ultimii ani, guvernul roman a fost indecis in privinta celor doua optiuni. Acum, guvernul se confrunta cu o alegere dificila: sa vanda AAU la un pret scazut in lunile urmatoare (dupa ce legislatia necesara este adoptata), sau sa riste sa le piarda cu totul, daca un nou acord international post-Kyoto nu va permite ca AAU sa fie reportate dupa 2012“, se arata in raportul CRPE.
In prezent, din pricina acestor ezitari, dar si a scaderii preturilor din piata, autoritatile romane spera sa obtina aproximativ 8-10 euro/tona.
Romania, una dintre tarile care participa la sistemul european de tranzactionare a cotelor emisiilor de bioxid de carbon, in urma Protocolului de la Kyoto, s-a clasat in 2008 pe locul noua in Uniunea Europeana dupa cotele alocate, respectiv 70,65 milioane tone CO2 echivalent, potrivit datelor Comisiei europene. Emisiile de bioxid de carbon verificate ale Romaniei au scazut in 2008 cu 8,7% fata de 2007, la 63,5 milioane tone.
marți, 15 decembrie 2009
Copenhagen 2009
In 2012 the Kyoto Protocol to prevent climate changes and global warming runs out. To keep the process on the line there is an urgent need for a new climate protocol. At the conference in Copenhagen 2009 the parties of the UNFCCC meet for the last time on government level before the climate agreement need to be renewed.
Climate friendly city car in front of the Bella Center
Therefore the Climate Conference in Copenhagen is essential for the worlds climate and the Danish government and UNFCCC is putting hard effort in making the meeting in Copenhagen a success ending up with a Copenhagen Protocol to prevent global warming and climate changes.
The Climate Conference will take place in the Bella Center. The conference centre is placed not far from Copenhagen and near the Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup.
Governmental representatives from 170 countries are expected to be in Copenhagen in the days of the conference accompanied by other governmental representatives, NGO's, journalists and others. In total 8000 people are expected to Copenhagen in the days of the climate meeting.
Minister for Climate and Energy, Connie Hedegaard. Photo: Jakob Dall
The host of the meeting in Copenhagen is the government of Denmark represented by Connie Hedegaard, the Danish minister of Climate and Energy and Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. The official sekretariat is placed in connection to The Prime Ministers Office in Copenhagen. Originally the hosting of the climate conference was initiated by the former Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Former Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Photo: Hung Tien Vu
The Danish Government has decided that not only the subject of the conference should be focused on the climate but also the conference itself. Among other initiatives the organizers work on mounting af windmill near the Bella Center to produce climate friendly electricity for the conference.
The conference in Copenhagen is the 15th conference of parties (COP15) in the Framework Convention on Climate Change. The recent meeting in United Nations Climate Change Conferences was held in December 2007 in Bali.
Danish Prime Minister
Lars Løkke Rasmussen
The secretary for the climate conferences is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFCCC - based in the German city Bonn.
An important part of the scientific background for the political decisions taken on the conferences is made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The IPCC is Established to provide the decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change. IPCC is a scientific intergovernmental body set up by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In 2007 the IPCC received the Nobel Peace Price).
Climate friendly city car in front of the Bella Center
Therefore the Climate Conference in Copenhagen is essential for the worlds climate and the Danish government and UNFCCC is putting hard effort in making the meeting in Copenhagen a success ending up with a Copenhagen Protocol to prevent global warming and climate changes.
The Climate Conference will take place in the Bella Center. The conference centre is placed not far from Copenhagen and near the Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup.
Governmental representatives from 170 countries are expected to be in Copenhagen in the days of the conference accompanied by other governmental representatives, NGO's, journalists and others. In total 8000 people are expected to Copenhagen in the days of the climate meeting.
Minister for Climate and Energy, Connie Hedegaard. Photo: Jakob Dall
The host of the meeting in Copenhagen is the government of Denmark represented by Connie Hedegaard, the Danish minister of Climate and Energy and Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. The official sekretariat is placed in connection to The Prime Ministers Office in Copenhagen. Originally the hosting of the climate conference was initiated by the former Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Former Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Photo: Hung Tien Vu
The Danish Government has decided that not only the subject of the conference should be focused on the climate but also the conference itself. Among other initiatives the organizers work on mounting af windmill near the Bella Center to produce climate friendly electricity for the conference.
The conference in Copenhagen is the 15th conference of parties (COP15) in the Framework Convention on Climate Change. The recent meeting in United Nations Climate Change Conferences was held in December 2007 in Bali.
Danish Prime Minister
Lars Løkke Rasmussen
The secretary for the climate conferences is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFCCC - based in the German city Bonn.
An important part of the scientific background for the political decisions taken on the conferences is made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The IPCC is Established to provide the decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change. IPCC is a scientific intergovernmental body set up by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In 2007 the IPCC received the Nobel Peace Price).
Primul vapor electric a fost inaugurat la Amsterdam.
Este perfect silentios si emite numai vapori de apa. Nemo H2 cum este denumit primul vapor electric are o capacitate de 87 de pasageri si navigheaza pe canalele din centrul istoric al Amsterdam-ului. Vaporul-prototip Nemo H2, destinat excursiilor turistice, este propulsat prin tehnologia pilelor de combustie, care convertesc energia chimica in energia electrica. Hidrogenul si oxigenul din pile sunt mixate pentru a produce electricitate, ceea ce inseamna ca vaporul se deplaseaza cu 0 emisii in aer. Proiectantul lui Nemo H2 crede ca, in cativa ani, vapoarele propulsate de aceasta tehnologie verde vor deveni majoritare in Amsterdam, un oras cu 125 de canale navigate de sute de ambarcatiuni in fiecare zi
marți, 1 decembrie 2009
UE si-ar putea reduce emisiile cu 40% pana in 2020
Uniunea Europeana si-ar putea dubla procentul de reducere a emisiilor de gaze cu efect de sera fara sa construiasca alte centrale nucleare si fara sa se bazeze pe tehnologii care nu si-au dovedit eficienta, precum captarea si stocarea carbonului in subteran, arata un studiu al Institutului de Mediu de la Stockholm, informeaza The Ecologist.
Acest lucru ar putea fi realizat prin eliminarea combustibililor fosili, prin folosirea energiilor regenerabile si prin imbunatatiri radicale ale eficientei energetice. Actualele angajamente arata o vointa de reducere a emisiilor cu 20% pana in 2020, dar noul studiu dovedeste ca Europa isi poate reduce poluarea cu 40% pana in 2020 si cu 90% pana in 2050 fata de nivelul din 1990.
“Analiza noastra arata ca se pot face reduceri substantiale la costuri rezonabile pana in 2050, chiar si cu presupuneri conservative ale imbunatatirilor tehnologice”, a declarat dr Charles Heaps, reprezentant al Institutului de Mediu de la Stockholm.
Studiul pune accentul pe trecerea la transportul in comun si la renuntarea la transportul aerian. Calatoriile cu masina ar putea scadea de la 75% la 43% din totalul calatoriilor pana in 2050, iar 80% dintre calatoriile cu avionul in Europa de pana la 1.000 de km ar putea fi facute cu trenul tot pana in 2050.
Studiul estimeaza ca pretul reducerii emisiilor cu 40% ar fi intre 1 si 3% din PIB-ul Europei.
“Desi nu este o suma nesemnificativa, nu este nici un cost imposibil. De fapt, poate fi considerat un pret mic daca il punem in contextul crizei cu care ne confruntam“, se arata in studiu.
Acest lucru ar putea fi realizat prin eliminarea combustibililor fosili, prin folosirea energiilor regenerabile si prin imbunatatiri radicale ale eficientei energetice. Actualele angajamente arata o vointa de reducere a emisiilor cu 20% pana in 2020, dar noul studiu dovedeste ca Europa isi poate reduce poluarea cu 40% pana in 2020 si cu 90% pana in 2050 fata de nivelul din 1990.
“Analiza noastra arata ca se pot face reduceri substantiale la costuri rezonabile pana in 2050, chiar si cu presupuneri conservative ale imbunatatirilor tehnologice”, a declarat dr Charles Heaps, reprezentant al Institutului de Mediu de la Stockholm.
Studiul pune accentul pe trecerea la transportul in comun si la renuntarea la transportul aerian. Calatoriile cu masina ar putea scadea de la 75% la 43% din totalul calatoriilor pana in 2050, iar 80% dintre calatoriile cu avionul in Europa de pana la 1.000 de km ar putea fi facute cu trenul tot pana in 2050.
Studiul estimeaza ca pretul reducerii emisiilor cu 40% ar fi intre 1 si 3% din PIB-ul Europei.
“Desi nu este o suma nesemnificativa, nu este nici un cost imposibil. De fapt, poate fi considerat un pret mic daca il punem in contextul crizei cu care ne confruntam“, se arata in studiu.
Coreea de Sud isi reduce emisiile cu 30%
Coreea de Sud si-a asumat o tinta de reducere a emisiilor cu efect de sera cu 30% pana in 2020, desi a anuntat ca va avea probleme in atingerea acestui obiectiv, informeaza Earth Times.
Din cauza industriei exporturilor din Coreea, o mare consumatoare de energie, cele 30 de procente ar putea suna ca un vis frumos, a declarat ministrul Economiei din China, Choi Kyung Hwan.
“Luand in considerare stadiul in care se afla economia noastra, ne indreptam spre un drum verde pe care nimeni altcineva nu a mai pasit. Aproape 40% din totalul energiei noastre este consumata de sectoarele cu export intensiv, precul otelul sau petrochimicalele”, a declarat Choi.
Promisiunile Coreei de Sud de a reduce emisiile de gaze cu efect de sera au generat temeri in randul exportatorilor, care considera ca le este afectata competitivitatea.
In ciuda opozitiei si a efectelor negative care ar putea aparea pe plan economic, Choi a declarat ca administratia de la Seul este hotarata sa convinga industria nationala sa devina ecologica, in incercarea de a juca un rol mediator intre Occident si statele in curs de dezvoltare.
Din cauza industriei exporturilor din Coreea, o mare consumatoare de energie, cele 30 de procente ar putea suna ca un vis frumos, a declarat ministrul Economiei din China, Choi Kyung Hwan.
“Luand in considerare stadiul in care se afla economia noastra, ne indreptam spre un drum verde pe care nimeni altcineva nu a mai pasit. Aproape 40% din totalul energiei noastre este consumata de sectoarele cu export intensiv, precul otelul sau petrochimicalele”, a declarat Choi.
Promisiunile Coreei de Sud de a reduce emisiile de gaze cu efect de sera au generat temeri in randul exportatorilor, care considera ca le este afectata competitivitatea.
In ciuda opozitiei si a efectelor negative care ar putea aparea pe plan economic, Choi a declarat ca administratia de la Seul este hotarata sa convinga industria nationala sa devina ecologica, in incercarea de a juca un rol mediator intre Occident si statele in curs de dezvoltare.
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