Lower CO2 emissions through better technology

Abstract

The natural emissions of CO2 are approximately 200 Gigatons carbon per year. The same amount is taken out of the atmosphere every year. The man-made emissions are approximately 8 Gigatons C/year, 2 Gigatons from deforestation and 6 from the use of fossil fuels. While this amount seems low, it is the only part which is not offset by carbon removal, and it is growing rapidly as the world economy expends. 1.8 Gt C/year are due to electricity generation from combustion of fossil fuels; 4.2 Gt C/year are caused by use of fossil fuels in transportation, industry and private homes. Three strategies are available to reduce the amount of CO2 - Prevention: avoid formation of CO2 by higher efficiencies in electricity generation, transmission and use - Recycling of CO2 by capture, utilization and disposal/storage - Use of renewable sources of energy like hydro, solar, wind, biomass, etc., and use of nuclear power. The potential to prevent an increase from today's 1.8 Gt C/year in 2010 is 1.5 Gt C/year, if best available technologies will be utilized in the power industry. The potential to recycle CO 2 is much higher, but its utilization hinges on costs of fossil fuel generated electricity, which would increase by 50 – 100 %.