DOE's goal: Suite of CO2 technologies by 2012

Washington (Platts)--7Mar2007

The Department of Energy's long-term goal is to capture 90% of carbon dioxide
emissions, sequester 99% of the CO2 with no more than a 10% increase in the
cost of energy services by 2012, and have a portfolio of technologies ready
for the market after 2012.

But, even though the list of technologies would be available in the DOE's plan
by 2012, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Thomas Shope
told a House subcommittee that a full-scale plant with carbon sequestration
and capture would not be operational until 2025.

Several leaders on the Energy and Air Quality subcommittee ? who want coal
plants to be built with CO2-capture technology in the near term ? balked at
the 18-year time frame in light of the fact that CO2 separation technology is
commercially available at some industrial facilities.

"If the technology is available, why not put it to use?" Representative Edward
Markey of Massachusetts wanted to know during the Tuesday hearing.

Shope explained that the separation technology has not been deployed at a
scale "required for large power plant applications" and it could
"significantly increase electricity production costs."

Chairman Rick Boucher of Virginia and Representative John Shimkus of Illinois
said they were concerned that if carbon-control requirements are put in place
before the technology is ready, it could lead to fuel-switching from coal at a
time when it's the country's largest domestic source of energy.

-- Regina Johnson, regina_johnson@platts.com