POWER PLANTS AND GREENHOUSE GASES
Part 3 - Technology
September 2008

There is a wide range of research and development underway aimed at addressing the reduction and capture of carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.  There are various approaches to these efforts, including improvements in efficiency resulting in a reduction of the amount of carbon dioxide generated per kWh, new combustion methods such as oxy-combustion and gasification (pre-combustion systems), as well as flue gas treatment systems (post-combustion control).  The impacts of carbon dioxide capture systems on overall plant performance as well as capital and operating costs are significant.  And, capturing emissions only addresses part of the problem - once the emissions are captured, they must be disposed of. Research and development is underway for methods of disposal, with most focused on sequestration, such as storage in underground formations.  Costs for sequestration have also been estimated and shown to have an additional significant cost impact.

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