Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Science & Technology: Using Geothermal Energy for Carbon Capture

Turning Bad Air Into Stone (mega)

A new frontier in carbon capture and storage technology


At Hellisheidi geothermal plant just outside Reykjavik, environmental scientists made a major discovery in 2016.

Conducting experiments into carbon capture and storage (CCS), they found that the volcanic island’s basalt rocks could serve as excellent repositories for planet-warming carbon dioxide (CO2).

Mixing CO2 with water and pumping it directly into the rocks, the researchers were able to turn the substance into a storable solid. Impressively, the mineralisation process they used took just two years – at least five times faster than their most optimistic predictions.