WWW.BLUEFUELENERGY.COM: Capturing and transporting CO2 by pipeline is fundamental to Blue Fuel Energy’s plan to produce carbon-neutral DME/Blue Fuel in British Columbia. Recent announcements about Enhance Energy’s Alberta Carbon Trunk Line (ACTL) project, and support for it by the governments of Alberta (C$495m) and Canada (C$63m, from the Clean Energy Fund) have certainly caught our attention, even though the CO2 is slated for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and not the production of alternative fuels.
As regards the link between the ACTL and the production of DME/Blue Fuel, the key points are that the technologies for large-scale carbon capture and the pipelining of CO2 are ready to roll—and that energy companies that clearly understand that a carbon-constrained future is fast approaching have an opportunity to utilize recycled CO2 to produce an emerging carbon-neutral fuel that will have a significant role in mitigating climate change, enhancing air quality, and providing energy security in countries around the world.
Showing posts with label carbon capture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label carbon capture. Show all posts
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
President Obama and Prime Minister Harper release joint statement on clean energy
WWW.BLUEFUELENERGY.COM: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently returned from an official visit to Washington, DC, to meet with US President Barack Obama. As is customary, the two leaders released a joint statement at the end of Mr. Harper's trip, and included in their statement was a mention of the two countries' progress on clean energy since President Obama's visit to Ottawa in February 2009.
Specifically, the statement referenced a report on the US - Canada Clean Energy Dialogue written under the names of US Energy Secretary Steven Chu and the Canadian Minister of the Environment Jim Prentice, as well as a related report the US - Canada Clean Energy Dialogue Action Plan.
Of the two reports, the Action Plan is longer, more detailed, and more relevant. It states that the two governments have identified "key opportunities for joint collaboration in each of the following priority areas: 1) Developing and deploying clean energy technologies; 2) Building a more efficient electrical grid based on clean and renewable generation; and 3) Expanding clean energy research and development.
Of significant interest to the DME/Blue Fuel world is a section of the Action Plan that deals with carbon capture and storage (CCS). As the report states, "CCS holds tremendous promise for North American climate and energy security, and is a critical technology for significantly reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from large industrial point sources that use fossil fuels." What is described above is a perfect match for Blue Fuel Energy's Corporation's plans to use renewable energy, such as wind and hydro, as well as water and waste carbon dioxide (in a process called active sequestration) to produce carbon-neutral DME/Blue Fuel in British Columbia, Canada.
Until now, natural gas processors and other industrial plant operators have considered CO2 a waste by-product and simply released it into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. The alternatives are to sequester it underground or, as Blue Fuel Energy will do, to recycle it for energy use. Of all the CCS choices, we believe our active sequestration process makes the most sense both environmentally, politicallty, and economically, particularly since it utilizes renewable electricity, an important plank in the US-Canada joint plan platform.
The US-Canada Action Plan makes the following five recommendations in order "to realize a reliable, adequate, and secure North American electrical system - which will support a cleaner energy portfolio while providing cost effective energy solutions to consumers."
1. Increasing Opportunities for Trade in Clean Electricity.
2. Advancing Smart Grid and Clean Power Technologies
3. Realizing the Potential of Power Storage
4. Building the Power Work Force of Tomorrow
5. Keeping the Dialogue Going - the Canada-US Electricty/Smart Grid Forum.
According to the Joint Action Plan, implementation of these recommendations is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2009.
Although none of the objectives or recommendations in the Joint Plan mention DME/Blue Fuel specifically, in principle they speak directly to DME/Blue Fuel's strengths as an ultra-clean-burning, environmentally benign alternative fuel derived from waste CO2 and renewable electricity - and that spells good news indeed not only for the DME/Blue Fuel industry, but for consumers and citizens of both countries as well.
Specifically, the statement referenced a report on the US - Canada Clean Energy Dialogue written under the names of US Energy Secretary Steven Chu and the Canadian Minister of the Environment Jim Prentice, as well as a related report the US - Canada Clean Energy Dialogue Action Plan.
Of the two reports, the Action Plan is longer, more detailed, and more relevant. It states that the two governments have identified "key opportunities for joint collaboration in each of the following priority areas: 1) Developing and deploying clean energy technologies; 2) Building a more efficient electrical grid based on clean and renewable generation; and 3) Expanding clean energy research and development.
Of significant interest to the DME/Blue Fuel world is a section of the Action Plan that deals with carbon capture and storage (CCS). As the report states, "CCS holds tremendous promise for North American climate and energy security, and is a critical technology for significantly reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from large industrial point sources that use fossil fuels." What is described above is a perfect match for Blue Fuel Energy's Corporation's plans to use renewable energy, such as wind and hydro, as well as water and waste carbon dioxide (in a process called active sequestration) to produce carbon-neutral DME/Blue Fuel in British Columbia, Canada.
Until now, natural gas processors and other industrial plant operators have considered CO2 a waste by-product and simply released it into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. The alternatives are to sequester it underground or, as Blue Fuel Energy will do, to recycle it for energy use. Of all the CCS choices, we believe our active sequestration process makes the most sense both environmentally, politicallty, and economically, particularly since it utilizes renewable electricity, an important plank in the US-Canada joint plan platform.
The US-Canada Action Plan makes the following five recommendations in order "to realize a reliable, adequate, and secure North American electrical system - which will support a cleaner energy portfolio while providing cost effective energy solutions to consumers."
1. Increasing Opportunities for Trade in Clean Electricity.
2. Advancing Smart Grid and Clean Power Technologies
3. Realizing the Potential of Power Storage
4. Building the Power Work Force of Tomorrow
5. Keeping the Dialogue Going - the Canada-US Electricty/Smart Grid Forum.
According to the Joint Action Plan, implementation of these recommendations is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2009.
Although none of the objectives or recommendations in the Joint Plan mention DME/Blue Fuel specifically, in principle they speak directly to DME/Blue Fuel's strengths as an ultra-clean-burning, environmentally benign alternative fuel derived from waste CO2 and renewable electricity - and that spells good news indeed not only for the DME/Blue Fuel industry, but for consumers and citizens of both countries as well.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
US Energy Secretary Chu Announces Nearly $300 Million in Grants to Support Clean Fuels, Vehicles, and Infrastructure Development
BLUEFUELENERGY.COM: On Wednesday, August 26, the US Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced in a speech and on the US Department of Energy (DOE) website the selection of 25 cost-share projects under the Clean Cities program that will be funded with nearly $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These projects will speed the transformation of the nation’s vehicle fleet, putting more than 9,000 alternative fuel and energy efficient vehicles on the road, and establishing 542 refueling locations across the country. The Department of Energy also estimates they will help displace approximately 38 million gallons of petroleum per year.
“The Clean Cities program is helping give state and local governments the tools they need to build a greener transportation system that will create new jobs and help to put America on the path to a clean energy future,” said Secretary Chu. “Advancing the number of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles on the road will increase our energy security, decrease our dependence on oil, and reduce pollution across the country.”
Under the Recovery Act, the Clean Cities program will fund a range of energy efficient and advanced vehicle technologies, such as hybrids, electric vehicles, plug-in electric hybrids, hydraulic hybrids and compressed natural gas vehicles, helping reduce petroleum consumption across the U.S. In addition, funding will support refueling infrastructure for various alternative fuel vehicles, including biofuels and natural gas. Other efforts under the Clean Cities program include public education and training initiatives to further the program’s goal of reducing the national demand for petroleum.
The projects announced by Secretary Chu will support a combined total of more than 9,000 light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles and establish 542 refueling locations across the country. The vehicles and infrastructure being funded include the use of natural and renewable gas, propane, ethanol, biodiesel, electricity, and hybrid technologies. And with the cost share contributions from the recipients, every federal dollar spent will be matched by nearly two dollars from the project partners.
The DOE announcement has several implications for Blue Fuel/DME producers. First, it means that the United States government is taking alternative fuels seriously - clearly a good thing. Secondly, because Blue Fuel/DME is hydrogen rich and can readily be reformed into hydrogen, it is an excellent fuel for onboard hydrogen reforming in hydrogen-powered vehicles. Finally, since natural-gas vehicles are being promoted by the DOE, the need for carbon capture of excess CO2 from natural gas processing plants becomes even more critical. Through the process of active sequestration - the recycling of carbon dioxide for the production of commercial products - combined with renewable energy, we can produce an alternative fuel (Blue Fuel) that represents an immediate solution to the CO2 emissions problems facing natural gas producers all over North America - and, hopefully, even beyond.
“The Clean Cities program is helping give state and local governments the tools they need to build a greener transportation system that will create new jobs and help to put America on the path to a clean energy future,” said Secretary Chu. “Advancing the number of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles on the road will increase our energy security, decrease our dependence on oil, and reduce pollution across the country.”
Under the Recovery Act, the Clean Cities program will fund a range of energy efficient and advanced vehicle technologies, such as hybrids, electric vehicles, plug-in electric hybrids, hydraulic hybrids and compressed natural gas vehicles, helping reduce petroleum consumption across the U.S. In addition, funding will support refueling infrastructure for various alternative fuel vehicles, including biofuels and natural gas. Other efforts under the Clean Cities program include public education and training initiatives to further the program’s goal of reducing the national demand for petroleum.
The projects announced by Secretary Chu will support a combined total of more than 9,000 light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles and establish 542 refueling locations across the country. The vehicles and infrastructure being funded include the use of natural and renewable gas, propane, ethanol, biodiesel, electricity, and hybrid technologies. And with the cost share contributions from the recipients, every federal dollar spent will be matched by nearly two dollars from the project partners.
The DOE announcement has several implications for Blue Fuel/DME producers. First, it means that the United States government is taking alternative fuels seriously - clearly a good thing. Secondly, because Blue Fuel/DME is hydrogen rich and can readily be reformed into hydrogen, it is an excellent fuel for onboard hydrogen reforming in hydrogen-powered vehicles. Finally, since natural-gas vehicles are being promoted by the DOE, the need for carbon capture of excess CO2 from natural gas processing plants becomes even more critical. Through the process of active sequestration - the recycling of carbon dioxide for the production of commercial products - combined with renewable energy, we can produce an alternative fuel (Blue Fuel) that represents an immediate solution to the CO2 emissions problems facing natural gas producers all over North America - and, hopefully, even beyond.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Core sampling signals next step in large-scale sequestration project
BLUEFUELENERGY.COM: A large-scale carbon dioxide sequestration project is under development in northern British Columbia, Canada. The project is located near Spectra Energy’s Fort Nelson natural gas processing plant. The project is an international collaboration that includes Spectra Energy, the Province of British Columbia, Natural Resources Canada, the Plains CO2 Reduction (PCOR) Partnership, and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
In its press release the DOE describes the project as one of the first commercial-scale carbon capture and storage projects in a saline aquifer in North America. With projected storage of over two million tons of CO2 per year it is slated to be one of the largest carbon sequestration projects in the world. The goal of the project is to develop technology, infrastructure and regulations for the implementation of large-scale CO2 sequestration.
The PCOR Partnership has begun collecting core samples and is implementing a well logging program. “Core sampling and well logging help determine a site’s geologic suitability for safe and permanent storage of CO2. Coring of the Elk Point rock formations at Fort Nelson will provide researchers, geologists, and reservoir experts with characterization data of the carbonate formations that will be used to store the CO2 and the impermeable shale layers above that will act as a cap rock to contain the CO2. As part of these activities, numerous geomechanical and geochemical tests designed to evaluate the performance of the reservoir and containment rocks will be performed.
The information collected from the core samples, together with tests and well logging, will be critical in developing simulation models and the anticipated design and implementation of CO2 injection. The project is expected to involve the eventual transportation of CO2 from Spectra Energy’s Fort Nelson natural gas processing plant to the injection site.”
This is just one of many stories about CO2 capture and storage appearing recently. For Blue Fuel/DME producers these news stories are promising ones. For conventional producers of Blue Fuel/DME from coal and natural gas feedstocks, the development of carbon capture and storage technology at the production stage is crucial for the acceptance of their product in a world increasingly dominated by the concept of carbon-neutrality. In addition, should producers of conventional or carbon-neutral Blue Fuel/DME sell their product for utilization at a point source such as an electrical power plant, carbon capture and storage at the end stage would further enhance the green profile of their fuel, increase its competitive edge and further reduce its impact on global climate change.
In its press release the DOE describes the project as one of the first commercial-scale carbon capture and storage projects in a saline aquifer in North America. With projected storage of over two million tons of CO2 per year it is slated to be one of the largest carbon sequestration projects in the world. The goal of the project is to develop technology, infrastructure and regulations for the implementation of large-scale CO2 sequestration.
The PCOR Partnership has begun collecting core samples and is implementing a well logging program. “Core sampling and well logging help determine a site’s geologic suitability for safe and permanent storage of CO2. Coring of the Elk Point rock formations at Fort Nelson will provide researchers, geologists, and reservoir experts with characterization data of the carbonate formations that will be used to store the CO2 and the impermeable shale layers above that will act as a cap rock to contain the CO2. As part of these activities, numerous geomechanical and geochemical tests designed to evaluate the performance of the reservoir and containment rocks will be performed.
The information collected from the core samples, together with tests and well logging, will be critical in developing simulation models and the anticipated design and implementation of CO2 injection. The project is expected to involve the eventual transportation of CO2 from Spectra Energy’s Fort Nelson natural gas processing plant to the injection site.”
This is just one of many stories about CO2 capture and storage appearing recently. For Blue Fuel/DME producers these news stories are promising ones. For conventional producers of Blue Fuel/DME from coal and natural gas feedstocks, the development of carbon capture and storage technology at the production stage is crucial for the acceptance of their product in a world increasingly dominated by the concept of carbon-neutrality. In addition, should producers of conventional or carbon-neutral Blue Fuel/DME sell their product for utilization at a point source such as an electrical power plant, carbon capture and storage at the end stage would further enhance the green profile of their fuel, increase its competitive edge and further reduce its impact on global climate change.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Federal advisory agency urges Canadian government to adopt cap-and-trade system
BLUEFUELENERGY.COM:The National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE) has just published a report, Achieving 2050: A Carbon Pricing Policy for Canada, recommending that the federal government implement a unified carbon pricing policy across the country as a means of achieving Canada's medium- and long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. Canada has pledged to reduce emissions to 20% below 2006 levels by 2020 and to 65% below 2006 levels by 2050.
“The Round Table’s report concludes that a unified national carbon price through an economy-wide cap-and-trade system across all jurisdictions, emissions, and sectors is necessary to allow Canada to reach its emission reductions targets at the least economic cost,” said NRTEE Chair Bob Page. The report acknowledges the challenges Canada faces in transforming its economy for a low-carbon future, yet provides a realistic framework within which the economy can evolve. Part of this framework entails dove-tailing Canada's cap-and-trade system with those of other countries, particularly the United States, which is planning to implement a cap-and-trade system by 2012.
DME is an emerging fuel and the current emphasis in the industry is on developing international standards, conducting long-term durability tests with DME vehicles, fine-tuning distribution infrastructure, raising awareness, and establishing markets. What the NRTEE report underscores, however, is that for the full potential of DME to be realized in a low-carbon world, the industry must also focus on reducing its carbon footprint. It could do this by exploring opportunities to:
1) Incorporate renewables such as wind, hydro, and geothermal into fossil fuel-based production processes (as explained by Professor Weidou Ni of TsingJua University in Beijing in his presentation How to Make the Production of DME More "Green";
2) Use biomass to produce DME, as the BioDME projects promotes
3) Use renewables, water, and waste carbon dioxide to produce DME, as Blue Fuel Energy promotes
Failure of DME producers to minimize DME's carbon footprint compromises the potential of this multi-purpose fuel to be adopted in jurisdictions with stringent GHG emissions—and the ability of producers to take advantage of the green credits that will accrue to producers of carbon-neutral energy. Sooner rather than later there is going to be an international price on carbon emissions and it behooves DME producers to develop strategies to put themselves in a position where they have a competitive advantage over other fuels in the drive to mitigate climate change.
“The Round Table’s report concludes that a unified national carbon price through an economy-wide cap-and-trade system across all jurisdictions, emissions, and sectors is necessary to allow Canada to reach its emission reductions targets at the least economic cost,” said NRTEE Chair Bob Page. The report acknowledges the challenges Canada faces in transforming its economy for a low-carbon future, yet provides a realistic framework within which the economy can evolve. Part of this framework entails dove-tailing Canada's cap-and-trade system with those of other countries, particularly the United States, which is planning to implement a cap-and-trade system by 2012.
DME is an emerging fuel and the current emphasis in the industry is on developing international standards, conducting long-term durability tests with DME vehicles, fine-tuning distribution infrastructure, raising awareness, and establishing markets. What the NRTEE report underscores, however, is that for the full potential of DME to be realized in a low-carbon world, the industry must also focus on reducing its carbon footprint. It could do this by exploring opportunities to:
1) Incorporate renewables such as wind, hydro, and geothermal into fossil fuel-based production processes (as explained by Professor Weidou Ni of TsingJua University in Beijing in his presentation How to Make the Production of DME More "Green";
2) Use biomass to produce DME, as the BioDME projects promotes
3) Use renewables, water, and waste carbon dioxide to produce DME, as Blue Fuel Energy promotes
Failure of DME producers to minimize DME's carbon footprint compromises the potential of this multi-purpose fuel to be adopted in jurisdictions with stringent GHG emissions—and the ability of producers to take advantage of the green credits that will accrue to producers of carbon-neutral energy. Sooner rather than later there is going to be an international price on carbon emissions and it behooves DME producers to develop strategies to put themselves in a position where they have a competitive advantage over other fuels in the drive to mitigate climate change.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Government of Canada funds carbon capture projects
BLUEFUELENERGY.COM: Fundamental to the production of Blue Fuel using renewables and waste carbon dioxide is the capturing of waste carbon dioxide from the flue gases of various industrial operations. For Blue Fuel Energy and other companies in Canada considering doing just this, a recent announcement by the Government of Canada that it will contribute funding to eight carbon capture projects is a most positive development.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Economic stimulus package to provide funding for carbon capture, storage and related technologies
BLUEFUELENERGY.COM If there were a contest for "Catchphrase of the Year", this year's winner would surely be "economic stimulus package". You cannot turn on a radio or television without hearing the phrase. But for all the talk, what do we know about how these packages will be applied in the real world?
The American economic stimulus packages takes the form of the American Recovery and Reinvestments Act (ARRA). An example of how the act will manifest itself in the energy field is presented in a US Department of Energy (DOE) press release:
"In response to ARRA, the Department of Energy's National Technology Laboratory (NETL) intends to issue, on behalf of the DOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE), a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) entitled "Carbon Capture and Sequestration from Industrial Sources". DOE plans to issue the FOA in March 2009.
The purpose of the FOA is to issue a new, two-part competitive solicitation: (a) Large-scale industrial CCS projects from industrial sources; (b) Innovative concepts for beneficial CO2 reuse.
(a) Large-scale industrial CCS projects from industrial sources: The large-scale CCS projects include integration of CO2 capture, transportation, and sequestration incorporating comprehensive Monitoring, Verification and Accounting (MVA). The projects may include plant efficiency improvements for integration with CO2 capture technology, and projects that couple capture with CO2-enhanced oil recovery (EOR) to advance EOR as a sequestration option. The industrial sources include, but are not limited to, cement plants, chemical plants, refineries, steel and aluminum plants, manufacturing facilities, natural gas processing, and petroleum coke-fired and other power plants.... DOE's objectives are to operate at commercial scale in a commercial setting, technologies that make progress towards capture and sequestration of 75% of the CO2 that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere and at a scale sufficient to evaluate the full impact of the CO2 capture technology on plant operations, economics, and performance...
(b) Innovative concepts for beneficial CO2 reuse: The innovative concepts for beneficial CO2 use/reuse include, but are not limited to, CO2 mineralization to carbonates directly through conversion of CO2 in the flue gas or indirectly through capture of CO2 from air, use of CO2/algae for biomass production, conversion of CO2 to fuel and chemicals, and desalinization of water produced from CO2 storage in saline formations."
Blue Fuel Energy applauds DOE's efforts to launch such progressive proposals. We particularly appreciate the "outside the box" thinking involved in the pursuit of innovative concepts for the beneficial reuse of CO2 - concepts that Blue Fuel Energy may well use to produce carbon-neutral Blue Fuel/DME. If these are the kinds of projects that will be pursued through the various economic stimulus packages around the world, then we may well weather this economic downturn and emerge in a cleaner, more sustainable future.
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