Chelsea Gohd reports that as climate change marches on, world leaders and scientists alike have considered the potential of geoengineering solutions to capture and store emissions. In fact, scientists recently concluded that we need to have effective geoengineering technology in place by as early as 2030, and this includes not only for SMRs but also for the available geothermal and hydroelectric resources.
As reported by Quartz, it seems Iceland is ahead of that deadline, with the help of a 300-megawatt geothermal power plant that has been built in Hellishei. The plant captures more carbon dioxide (CO2) than it produces, meaning it produces negative emissions. That said, it is true that the plant only produces about one third of the carbon a traditional coal plant would, but more than what it emits is both captured and stored underground. To accomplish this engineering marvel, a wall of fans sucks in air, filters out CO2, and injects the CO2 into water which is then pumped into the ground where it is absorbed by the shallow magma and very hot, porous rock below much of Iceland. This process is simple and produces usable energy while eliminating emissions from the environment; truly a win-win.
So why has not this technology been immediately adopted and replicated in every state in every country in the world? The short answer is not only cost but also the available energy below, like in Iceland. So only some locations are so fortunate, but others (like some parts of California, Nevada, and increasing parts of New Mexico) have such resources at relatively shallow depths. Best we best not tinker with the Yellowstone National Park area, but surrounding areas might be candidates for cautious development of their geothermal resources.
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