Study looks at turning CO2 into bricks

Greenwise Staff

24th May 2010

Research has begun in the UK looking at ways to turn CO2 into carbonate products, such as aggregates, bricks or even filler for concrete.

The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is already carrying out detailed studies into carbon capture and storage (CCS) and this latest research will look at CCS by 'mineralisation’.

Currently the main technology for CCS involves capturing carbon dioxide gas then storing it underground in oil and gas reservoirs and other porous areas.

Scientists have shown that minerals and CO2 can react together to permanently store CO2 as a solid carbonate product that can then be safely stored.

The £1 million ETI project will explore opportunities for value added use of the resulting carbonate products, such as aggregates, bricks or filler for concrete, and determine the viability of mineralisation compared to other CCS solutions.

It will identify the availability and distribution of suitable minerals across the UK and technologies that could be used to economically capture and store carbon dioxide emissions. These may arise from facilities such as small power plants, industrial plants, as well as large power stations, the ETI said.

"We have already announced a project looking at the potential storage capacity for CO2 under the sea but mineralisation provides a possible alternative solution," said ETI Chief Executive Dr David Clarke.

"Mineralisation potentially provides a permanent storage method, the CO2 could be converted into a useful end product and it could provide an opportunity to use waste materials to capture the carbon dioxide or be used in areas where local geological storage is not available."

Caterpillar and Shell behind project

Caterpillar and Shell, who are both members of the ETI, will help carry out the study along with the British Geological Survey, and the Centre for Innovation in Carbon Capture and Storage at the University of Nottingham.

Caterpillar’s director of research, John Amdall, said: "CO2 mineralisation permanently stores CO2 and has the potential for use in both large and small applications. Mineralisation also offers the potential of dramatically reducing the energy requirements and infrastructure requirements for CO2 capture and storage, thus making it a cost effective possibility for CCS."

The ETI is also carrying out the 'UK Storage Appraisal Project’, which is looking at how much practical potential geologic storage space is available around the country for storing carbon.

"The ETI is involved in projects across the whole area of heat, power, transport and infrastructure and this is another example of us addressing these complex issues to deliver large scale engineering solutions," said Clarke.

The ETI is a UK based company formed from global industries and the UK Government that is helping to deliver large scale engineering solutions for the UK energy system.

Last year it announced 15 projects worth over £53 million in offshore wind, marine, transport, CCS, energy storage and distribution and distributed energy.