CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) MITIGATION
The warming of our global climate has launched a massive international research effort to observe, understand, and predict climate change. Many scientists now believe that emissions of greenhouse gases may be a significant contributor to global climate change. If left unchecked, accelerating greenhouse gas emissions during this century may lead to even more dramatic changes in the Earth’s climate. Mitigation strategies, especially surrounding the human contribution to CO2 emissions, have therefore become a focus of intensive research and a principal goal of international and governmental environmental policies.
STACK GAS
HR BioPetroleum believes that microalgae––the fastest consumers of CO2 on the planet–– are the only feasible option for direct mitigation of dilute CO2 stack gas. Our patented and proprietary technologies are based on re-directing CO2, the primary greenhouse gas, from stack gas emitted from stationary sources of fossil fuel combustion, such as power plants and cement factories, to the production of biofuels and other valuable products from marine microalgae.
source: IPCC Special Report, Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage
As opposed to other CO2 mitigation methods such as underground storage, micro-algae actually convert CO2 through photosynthesis into valuable biomass. Studies indicate that 90% or more of CO2 dispersed in algae ponds can be converted by algae into oils, proteins, and carbohydrates. Due to its application alternatives and its excellent sustainability characteristics (use of non-arable land, high yield, use of brackish water or seawater, conversion of dilute stack gases), algae-derived biofuels are now increasingly referred to as “third generation biofuels.”
GOVERNMENTAL POLICIES AND TREATIES
Under the Kyoto Protocol, ratified by 160 countries, and which goes into full effect in 2012, there is a global commitment to reduce CO2 emissions below 1990 levels. Both the Kyoto Protocol and its predecessor in Europe, the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) operate as “cap and trade” systems.
Since 2005, some 12,000 large industrial plants in the EU have been able to buy and sell permits to release CO2 into the atmosphere. Each individual plant is assigned a specific emissions quota, or “cap.” Companies that exceed their cap can buy unused credits from “greener” companies. Fines of €40 per ton of CO2 are levied for excess emissions, rising to €100 per ton of CO2 after 3 years of entry into the trading system.
ETS and Kyoto effectively place a limit on industry growth – that’s the “cap.” The first industries to be affected are the big emitters – power, cement, and oil & gas. For those industries to remain at current production capacity – let alone grow - they must reduce their CO2 emissions.
Companies have two mainstream alternatives to reduce their CO2 emissions:
- Efficiency improvements of industrial processes that lead to marginal reductions in CO2 emissions. This is a short-term solution that, alone, will fail to meet overall regulatory requirements.
- Chemical capture, transport and geological storage, which is unproven and costly but technically feasible.
HRBP technology offers the potential to demonstrate that carbon dioxide mitigation is economically viable – and thus justify enforceable regulations.
CO2 EMMISIONS FROM BIOFUEL PRODUCTION
The manufacturing process for biofuels produces less CO2 than petroleum-based fuels, but all conventional biofuels result in net positive emissions of CO2. The microalgae-based HRBP Process, by contrast, results in a net reduction of CO2 emissions.
For more information on the mitigation of greenhouse gases please view the information from McKinsey and Company entitled "Reducing the U.S. Greenhouse Emissions: How Much at What Cost?"