Carbon Capture and Storage: Towards Increased Environmental Sustainability in the UAE - Example

Carbon capture and storage: Towards increased Environmental sustainability in the UAE Students’ name University affiliation Name of the course Code of the course Submission date Background Carbon emission into the atmosphere is the core contributor to the greenhouse effect which causes global warming and poses a serious danger to the environment. Ahmed, (2003) examines distinct areas in public health and environmental protection that are directly affected by excess carbon emissions. He notes that over the years carbon emissions have steadily increased as civilizations heavily relied on fossil fuels and industries that run on coal for economic growth. In light of this, Research by Alfarra & Abu-Hijleh, (2012) focuses attention on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its role in carbon emission being among the world’s leading oil producers, and especially considering the large percentage of which they consume locally. They note that in the process of production and consumption of oil, although very essential to the energy and economic sector of this region, directly emits carbon gas into the atmosphere. Essentially, this leaves the region at a crossroad in that burning of fossil fuels and the emission thereafter is a constant threat to the climate, environment and human livelihood. At the same time this region and its population directly relies on this energy for economic growth and development. This has raised concerns over environmental degeneration and the devastating effects it has on sustainability of the environment in the region. This review will discuss how the carbon capture and sequestration technology has been incorporated in the UAE to mitigate these emerging concerns, what previous research has uncovered, the challenges involves and the positive impacts CCS technology has in the region. Carbon emission in UAE The United Arab Emirates is among the leading oil producers in the world, and the production of oil comes with a significant amount of carbon dioxide all of which is discharged into the atmosphere. Over time, this region has had an over reliance on fossil fuels, and cheap energy to boost its economy. According to Alfarra, H. J., & Abu-Hijleh, B., (2012) the UAE has grown to be one of the largest markets and tourism destination in the world, this further increased the carbon emissions to an alarming rate. For instance the amount of vehicles on traffic in a day alone is enough to emit a significant amount of carbon in the atmosphere to cause concern. In addition the amount of energy consumed in sustaining the sudden surge in population strains the environments capacity to sustain its population and further increases the threat of carbon emissions in the UAE. Such trends have become a major concern over time in the region, especially considering it paints a very negative picture to a world struggling to combat and manage global warming and climate change. Numerous proposals have been fronted to help in tackling the high carbon emissions in UAE at the core of which lies the Carbon capture technology. Research by Pires, et. al, (2011) suggest that the development and expeditious application of CCS technologies has been perceived as being strategically positioned in addressing this grave issue. It further adds that all expenses considered inclusion of CCS technology will steadily reduce carbon emission by capturing the harmful gas before it is emitted to the atmosphere. Furthermore the fact that it is capable of extracting already emitted carbon from the atmosphere and safely store it away shows that over time and if properly utilized, CCS technology could significantly manage greenhouse effect essentially slowing global warming. As it stands currently carbon emission in this region is at an all-time high and the carbon footprint of UAE is painting a negative picture of this region; furthermore climate change already is affecting the environment and the economy negatively. Herzog, (2001) argues that CCS technology is capable of reversing these damaging effects over time by reducing the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. He adds that, the inclusion of CCS in projects to combat carbon emission showed a tremendous improvement in the reduction of greenhouse gases that cause global warming. According to this research CCS has a unique method of quickly and efficiently getting rid of excess and dangerous CO2 and safely store it underground or in depleted oil wells. However this technology comes with cost challenges and full implementation will have long term effects to the economy. Peter Folger, (2009) in his research pointed out the potential problems in maintaining the integrity of the reservoirs. He argues that the chemical reactions following the injection of CO2 into the ground can acidify the soil thus lowering the pH; it may also increase permeability and by so doing allow CO2 rich fluids escape. Carbon capture and storage technology The Carbon capture, utilization and storage technology is a wide field that not only involves the conservation of the environment, but also by extension through proper management of the resources enhances oil recovery and mitigates carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. This section will explore what the CCS technology entails by detailing the reasons for its procedures. It will further look at the various aspects involved both in terms of cost and technology behind it, and lastly how CCS is suited for the UAE region. Hendriks, (2007) in his research warns that before large-scale implementation of the CCS technology further development on the transportation and storage methods should be done to ensure cost efficiency and manageability of the captured carbon. He adds that although currently considered to be a very expensive venture CCS when used over a long period of time its benefits will surpass its cost implications. Furthermore the value of life and need to preserve the environment should be ranked higher as such the cost considerations should not be of concern or considered a hurdle in the implementation of CCS technology. This project therefore will begin by understanding carbon emission in the UAE, its causes effects and projection if the prevailing trends continue. In addition the CCUS technology and how it works towards curbing carbon emissions in the UAE will be covered. An in depth analyses of its pros, cons and the ethical concerns will be tackled and eventually its contribution towards an improved, healthier, sustainable, and stable environment. CCS as a bridging technology According to Bang (2008), CCS is a fusion of various technologies to reduce the amount of carbon di oxide either being emitted or already has been emitted into the atmosphere. Three main steps involved include the capture process from a large industrial source or the atmosphere, transportation of the captured carbon to a suitable and safe location, and finally storage and monitoring these locations. He argues that, since the storing is done underground such methods go a long way in reducing human induced climate change. Below is a detailed description of Bangs findings on each section of the three stage procedure of CCS. He brings into perspective the relevance of each stage and how the overall output performs based on costs. Capture technology This is the initial stage of CCS and by far very expensive compared to the other two. It is a labor intensive process and consumes huge amounts of energy. This according to Bang (2008) disqualifies small sites. In large firms where fossil fuels are used in energy production, carbon can be captured in three different ways: post, pre-combustion, and oxy-fuel. Post combustion uses installed systems to capture carbon after burning of the fossil fuel. In addition, Bang states that this is a mature form of carbon capture and can be incorporated into existing plants making it useful. However, Bang warns that post-combustion emits very low quantities of carbon making if very difficult, and it requires a lot of energy to be effective. This essentially makes it the most expensive. In pre-combustion and oxy-fuel carbon and other harmful gases are removed before the fossil fuel is burnt for energy production. Because carbon dioxide at this stage is under a high pressure it is possible to use several simple techniques to achieve less carbon. Both these methods are quite efficient and less demanding. Transport technology Once the carbon has successfully been captured, it is safely transported to an appropriate site for storage. While overland transportation such as tanker trucks or trains can be effectively utilized, underground pipelines are most convenient. They are cost effective, safe and according to research by Lai et. al (2012) carbon transportation Is the most mature as pipelines have been used commercially since the 1970’s. Bang (2008) adds that a number of these pipelines have been effectively used in the united states for carbon transportation and are considered the correct choice in large scale carbon dioxide transportation. One major concern of pipeline transportation is the risk of leaks heightened by the very fact that carbon dioxide is corrosive and odorless. This makes hard to detect especially in low lying areas. This risk however can be mitigated by advances tools and monitoring systems. On the other hand, carbon dioxide is not flammable thus increasing the safety levels of pipeline transporting. Sequestration and monitoring technology This is the last of the three stage process and most important according to research by Folger (2009). It involves constant monitoring of the stored carbon and other captured gas together with their sites to ensure it does not leak back into the atmosphere. Bang (2008) adds in his research that other sites can be termed as value added if the storage of carbon in these areas result to negative costs such as economic payouts. Enhanced oil recovery is used to describe the state where oil mining improves through the injection of carbon into oil reservoirs. This is so because; the carbon dioxide dissolves into oil making it less viscous, and also increases the pressure. However, this simply means the captured carbon is injected right back into the atmosphere which poses a new challenge. Ethical concerns CCS technology comes with numerous advantages the most obvious being the reduction and possible reversal of the effects of global warming. However, according to research done by Engelen, (2009) there exists no evidence that this new technology will indeed reduce carbon emissions within the given time frame. The author casts doubts on this project arguing that they are very expensive and largely lack precedent in terms of implementation and possible negative effects that may arise. This costs rise from the extra space and power required by these plants to operate efficiently. These concerns are further expressed by Folger, (2009) who in his research says pushing for CCS incorporation will be promoting a vision with an uncertain end. His main focus is on the storage part and points out on the weaknesses such as the high possibility of the stored carbon escaping back to the atmosphere. He further argues that the three main methods of geological sequestration being considered; depleted oil reservoirs, deep saline reservoirs, and un-mineable coal seams are an intense and expensive process which once started will have to be constantly monitored. Furthermore when other soil factors such as porosity and permeability come into play storage becomes an extremely complex affair. Folger warns that although the benefits are high it is important further research is done before a full scale implementation is done so as to avert the creation of a bigger problem in a bid to solve another. Albeit these concerns Plasynski et. al (2011) for instance proposed the execution of robust monitoring, verification and accounting (MVA) tools that can be used to mitigate these risks. Natural gas usage concern One of the major concerns with oil extraction is the excessive amounts of natural gas use. Comprised mainly of carbon di oxide methane and small amounts of ethane gas natural gas is emitted extensively in the process of burning and extraction of oil. Much as the excavating and use of oil is economically prudent, it is devastating to the environment and the atmosphere. Water usage concern Water is an important and scares resource on our planet today. Most oil mining operations are located far for large water sources. As a result, a great percentage of the water used is obtained from underground sources. Although much of the water in use is recycled a substantial amount is used to replace the extracted oil. Oil mining projects are responsible for a vast majority of annual water use. In the end, oil mining affects the environment from all directions, and from this perspective it is an extremely expensive affair. Furthermore according to Engelen water conservation should top the list in environmental conservation. Judging by the rate at which oil production consumes fresh water it is indeed of great concern how this will be managed and how CCS technology will be entrenched in oil production to solve this situation. Challenges One of the most outstanding challenges is the public acceptance of CCS technology by governments and populations surrounding the unused oil wells. Up till now there are so many mysteries surrounding the technology and no one is particularly interested in taking the risk of testing. Furthermore according to Folger the storage site are a delicate balance between environmental conservation and creating of potential hazard as one slight error can lead to massive destruction, not to mention the wasted resources in terms of money invested. Potentially fatal leaks can occur if this system is poorly monitored and maintained. Also, the cost implications of CCS are extremely high and unless innovative means of cost cutting are introduced this may turn out to be a great hurdle. These cost problems are heightened by the lack of regulation in this technology argues Bang. Most organizations were unwilling to invest unless a clear way forward is forged through regulations. Way forward Public awareness can successfully be utilized to demystify CCS and convince populations of the benefits of this technology. A primary goal of developing CCs technology and deploying is to manage carbon footprint that UAE has. In his research Folger, (2009) puts it at with the incorporation of CCS industries should be able to operate normally only this time their emissions will be carbon free. Essentially research surrounding this subject mostly covers the capture and storage process and the concerns that arise thereafter (Ramussen, 2012). However most researchers fail to acknowledge that global warming is a reality and any effort to combat its effects are welcome. In this regard this review seeks to further advance on the current research by various scholars and highlight the importance of incorporating CCS technology in UAE. Capitalizing on the shortcomings of previous analyses this paper will explore the specific benefits of this technology in the long term both economically and environmentally. A lot has been covered on how this technology works and the numerous possibilities in the event of its failure. However these researchers fail to note the bigger picture which is environmental and resource conservation. Foe as long as there is even the slightest possibility of managing this it should be explored further. This research will focus on the positive aspects of CCS technology and the main areas which can be improved especially toward the conservation of the environment and the UAE region. Conclusion In conclusion, whatever challenges that may arise with the use of CCS technology, it is imperative that a solution to carbon emissions in this region be reached. According to Rasmussen, (2012) costs incurred in the deployment and use of this technology will significantly reduce as its use is popularized and new technology emerges. It is highly unlikely that the world and UAE to be specific will stop relying on fossil fuel in the near future. It’s therefor imperative that CCS technology is further improved to as to counter the negative effects carbon emission has in the region. The UAE region has been presented with a great opportunity to spur investments into CCS infrastructure and development. With proper investments and measures the incorporation of CCS technology into their industries will be a step in the right direction. With such infrastructure in place UAE will continue leading in oil production, while at the same time managing toxic gas emissions. 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Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 89(9), 1446-1460. Retrieved February, 17th, 2013 from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0263876211000554 Plasynski, S.I. et. al (2011).The critical role of monitoring, verification, and accounting for geological carbon dioxide storage projects. Retrieved February, 17th, 2013 from http://eg.geoscienceworld.org/content/18/1/19.abstract Read More