LITMIR.BIZ

Preface

      The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (IPCC-WG1 2013) states that it is extremely likely (≥95% probability) that human activities caused more than half of the observed increase in global average surface temperature from 1951 to 2010. In order to reduce the man-made warming, concerted action to mitigate emissions of greenhouse gases is now needed. The main greenhouse gas generated by human activities is carbon dioxide (CO₂). Other important greenhouse gases produced from human activities are methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). CO₂ is produced mainly by the combustion of fossil fuels in the power sector, manufacturing industry, and in the transport sector and also in the production of energy carriers and services. Projections by the International Energy Agency indicate that fossil fuels will be the dominant source of energy until 2030 and most likely beyond. It is, therefore, becoming increasingly important that we develop and deploy mitigation technologies that can make significant reductions in CO₂ emissions in all sectors.

      This book covers both CO₂ capture technologies as well as power generation technologies. These are strongly coupled when capturing CO₂ from power plants. CO₂ capture technologies have many of the same components found in various chemical plants, while power generation technologies is a different world where power engineering and mechanical engineering rule the ground. CO₂ capture makes it necessary to deal with these areas simultaneously, with a communication between a more diversified group of engineers and scientists that is common today. It is even more complex than that because CO₂ capture is also strongly coupled to transport and storage of the CO₂, which brings geologists and reservoir engineers into the game. Another aspect of this is that if CO₂ capture and storage make sense, it needs to be done on a very large scale – with big implications to not only the energy industry but also to the society in general. This makes it necessary to have the economists and social sciences taking part in the development of CO₂ capture and storage technologies.

      Note that biomass as fuel and Bio-CO₂ capture and storage (CCS) are not included in the book. Although many of the same aspects on power plant technologies and CO₂ capture as for fossil fuels also apply to biomass, we believe that this subject deserves a separate treatment together with other potential negative CO₂ emission technologies.

Both authors have a mechanical engineering background. Olav Bolland was active in the CCS field from the late 1980s until 2017 and has led and participated in many national and European projects within CCS. Lars Nord worked in the power generation industry for seven years before returning to academia in 2006 to pursue a PhD degree within CCS under Bolland's supervision. This work has continued until now. Both Bolland and Nord are working at NTNU – The Norwegian University of Science and Technology in the Faculty of Engineering.

      Some notes on terminology in the book are as follows:

      With hopes of a good read for you!

       Lars O. Nord and Olav Bolland Trondheim, Norway

      8 November 2019