FOSSIL-FUEL AND GREENHOUSE-GAS MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES

The world has become highly alerted to the global warming problem. The major greenhouse gas is CO2, large quantities of which are produced by combustion of fossil fuels; coal being a major contributor. Whereas a great deal of effort is being expended on the science of climate change, very little work has gone into mitigation technologies. This is now changing. The options include improved energy utilization efficiency, fuel switching, non-fossil energy sources, and pre- and post-combustion removal and disposal of CO2 from central power stations. Another approach is the pre-combustion conversion of fossil fuel to a carbon-rich fraction and a hydrogen-rich fraction; storing the carbon-rich and only utilizing the hydrogen-rich fraction. By coprocessing with the biomass, the CO2 emission from fossil fuel can be reduced to negligible values. Assessment of these systems is discussed.