Lecture

Carbon Geological Storage (CGS)

Graph Chat

Chat with Graph Search

Ask any question about EPFL courses, lectures, exercises, research, news, etc. or try the example questions below.

DISCLAIMER: The Graph Chatbot is not programmed to provide explicit or categorical answers to your questions. Rather, it transforms your questions into API requests that are distributed across the various IT services officially administered by EPFL. Its purpose is solely to collect and recommend relevant references to content that you can explore to help you answer your questions.

Description

This lecture covers the concept of Carbon Geological Storage (CGS), focusing on the CO2 cycle, storage facilities, deep geological storage in saline aquifers, mineral trapping, and the hazards associated with capture and separation. It discusses the anthropogenic perturbation of the C cycle, trends in CO2 emissions over time, available capacities, and time scales for carbon storage. The lecture also explores various carbon storage facilities such as atmosphere, oceans, and soil, emphasizing the need for storage close to emission points. It delves into topics like mineral trapping in basalt, seismic hazards, ocean acidification due to CO2 storage, and groundwater quality changes. The lecture concludes with the challenges and research needs in CGS, highlighting the importance of large-scale CCS and CGS initiatives.

Official source

Related concepts (32)

Carbon capture and storage

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a process in which a relatively pure stream of carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial sources is separated, treated and transported to a long-term storage location. For example, the carbon dioxide stream that is to be captured can result from burning fossil fuels or biomass. Usually the CO2 is captured from large point sources, such as a chemical plant or biomass plant, and then stored in an underground geological formation. The aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus mitigate climate change.

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is the process of extracting bioenergy from biomass and capturing and storing the carbon, thereby removing it from the atmosphere. BECCS can be a "negative emissions technology" (NET). The carbon in the biomass comes from the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) which is extracted from the atmosphere by the biomass when it grows. Energy ("bioenergy") is extracted in useful forms (electricity, heat, biofuels, etc.

Direct air capture

Direct air capture (DAC) is the use of chemical or physical processes to extract carbon dioxide directly from the ambient air. If the extracted is then sequestered in safe long-term storage (called direct air carbon capture and sequestration (DACCS)), the overall process will achieve carbon dioxide removal and be a "negative emissions technology" (NET). As of 2022, DAC has yet to become profitable because the cost of using DAC to sequester carbon dioxide is several times the carbon price.

Soil

Soil, also commonly referred to as earth, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life of plants and soil organisms. Some scientific definitions distinguish dirt from soil by restricting the former term specifically to displaced soil. Soil consists of a solid phase of minerals and organic matter (the soil matrix), as well as a porous phase that holds gases (the soil atmosphere) and water (the soil solution). Accordingly, soil is a three-state system of solids, liquids, and gases.

Carbon cycle

The carbon cycle is that part of the biogeochemical cycle by which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of Earth. Other major biogeochemical cycles include the nitrogen cycle and the water cycle. Carbon is the main component of biological compounds as well as a major component of many minerals such as limestone. The carbon cycle comprises a sequence of events that are key to making Earth capable of sustaining life.

Related lectures (64)

Soil Biogeochemistry: Carbon Cycling and Redox Reactions

Delves into soil's role in the carbon cycle, redox reactions, and climate impact.

CO2: Friend or Foe? / Independent and Neutral Switzerland

Covers the impact of CO2, the Earth's warming trend, renewable energy, and climate urgency.

CO2 Capture and Sequestration Technologies

Explores CO2 capture and sequestration technologies, discussing challenges, costs, and efficiency, emphasizing the importance of large-scale storage for emission reduction.

Carbon Cycle: CO2 Storage & Volcanic Emissions

Delves into the carbon cycle, CO2 storage, volcanic emissions, human impact, and nature-inspired solutions for reducing emissions.

Organic matter degradation