Matthew Chester's Outpost

  • Home
  • Profile
  • Soapbox
  • Peregrination
  • Live Journal
  • Repository

Nuclear vs. CCS: Reflections from Japan

4/25/2011

4 Comments

 
The recent quake in Japan has highlighted to me a subtle, yet important point to consider when pursuing nuclear or carbon capture and storage (CCS) options for future power generation: the environmental consequences of each option arising from a force majure.

Consider the nuclear option. Whilst it offers a low carbon solution to generating power, it carries with it the risk of meltdown and the release of nuclear material into the environment. This release could have dire consequences for flora and fauna near the emission source. However, because 'radiation' obeys the inverse square law its intensity reduces by a factor of four as the distance from the source doubles. So the risk is highest closest to the source.

Now consider the CCS option. Let's imagine that the Fukushima Power Station in Japan was actually coal fired and been injecting CO2 into the rock strata for the last 40 years. Had the earthquake ruptured the strata and released the CO2 into the atmosphere then the consequences are not localised like the nuclear release, but global. Thus the world is exposed, rather than a localised community.

This to me is the dilemma – and I'm not deliberately scaremongering. Sure I am pro-nuclear, but for this very reason: it is not a matter of opinion as to whether or not CO2 absorbs IR radiation, it is a matter of scientific fact. However, the consequences of increased amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere is (in my view) a matter of opinion – will the sea levels rise? Will the trans-Atlantic conveyor shutdown? Will more land become desert?

There is 50 years of nuclear expertise and evolution, yet I'm unaware of a full-scale CCS plant being in operation. The aging coal fired and gas fired power stations need upgrading – surely it is a case of better the devil we know, at least for the next 50 years?

4 Comments
Frank
4/25/2011 12:17:50

Even if we supposed that the Fukushima Power Station in Japan was actually coal fired and been injecting CO2 into the rock strata for the last 40 years. They would not be pumping the CO2 into rocks which were prone to fissure! They would be looking for old oil and gas fields, which is what makes it so attractive to the UK and USA but not much use in China.

Reply
MjC link
4/25/2011 13:36:52

Thanks for the interesting points.

As I understand use in old oil and gas fields is for enhanced oil recovery, i.e. pressurising the well to extract more fossil fuels - you have to appreciate the irony here in scrubbing CO2 from combustion and use it to get more fossil fuels! Whilst i appreciate it maybe of economic value it is not in the spirit of CCS. An alternative is deep saline aquification, which is really what I was refering to.

With regard to pumping CO2 into strata prone to fissure, you're right, one would hope that it would not happen. However, Christchurch, NZ, was considered a stable zone until recently. An interview with a Professor from British geological survey explained on the BBC that the fault under Christchurch was unknown until this year (http://www.bgs.ac.uk/research/earthquakes/newZealandFeb2011.html).

Given that our knowledge of Gaia is still so sketchy, it is why I still believe it's better the devil you know...

Reply
bell_a3 link
6/11/2011 23:41:25

newscientist Nano-foam could plug underground CO2 leaks http://bit.ly/kh6CXA

This may help mitigate?

Reply
MjC link
6/22/2011 13:23:35

Amazing! The foam may actually be useful - if the tests with CO2 are successful, it mean that CCS is a feasible solution.

Although, I've often wondered about injecting it in to aquifiers - a real bonus for those who like sparkling spring water!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    MjC

    Sharing my views on climate change, global warming, and systems.....

    Archives

    July 2015
    August 2013
    September 2012
    June 2012
    April 2012
    September 2011
    April 2011
    September 2010

    Categories

    All
    Ashby
    Beer
    Biffa
    Carbon Capture
    Carbon Emissions
    Carbon Impact
    Carbon Management
    Ccs
    Climate Change
    Co2
    Crc
    Degree Days
    Energy Management
    Energy Prices
    Global Warming
    Greenhouse Effect
    Modelling
    Necessary Revolution
    Nuclear Power
    Requisite Variety
    Sustainability
    Systems
    Tui Travel Plc

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.