CHINA, which is battling pollution on a big scale, and the European Union, one of the most technologically advanced regions, agreed yesterday to reduce China's carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power stations and to consider burying them.
Carbon dioxide from coal-fired power plants is a major pollutant damaging China's environment and the global ecology.
Shanghai experts said burying the gas was not viable in the area, given the geology of the region and possible water pollution. But nationwide, other geological conditions could make burial of the gas viable.
Shanghai scientists, meanwhile, said the gas could have further uses.
The city government is supporting a project to transform carbon dioxide emissions into recycling chemicals, said Luo Yonghao, professor of thermal engineering at Jiao Tong University.
Luo said the Huayi Group is studying transformation of carbon dioxide emission into ethyl acid - a basic industrial chemical.
He said the EU has budgeted 5 million euros (US$5.97 million) for a feasibility study.
China is trying to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from power stations and to collect the emitted carbon dioxide.
China and the EU will conduct feasibility studies and aim for zero-pollution power by 2020.
China depends heavily on coal, which accounts for 70 percent of its energy consumption.
New technology aims to reduce emissions from power generation while capturing and allowing for storage of carbon dioxide emitted from coal-fired power stations.
EU energy officials called the project even more important for China than the Galileo Project.
"This is a long-term scientific project for the future of human beings," said Ma Songde, vice minister for science and technology.
In Shanghai, experts said the city's cost for treating carbon dioxide could reach tens of billions of yuan.
According to Wang Yonggan, secretary general of China Electricity Council, the country's financial input for carbon dioxide-related research will not affect the power price at this time.
Shanghai Daily 2006-02-21
|
