Storing CO2 the same way Mother Nature does’

23 Jun 2008

Nature is able to remove CO2 from the atmosphere in just one stage: CO2 mineralisation. Prof. Hans Geerlings aims to develop an accelerated version of this process so as to allow large-scale storage of CO2.

In his inaugural address (Friday 30 May), Geerlings emphasises the importance of technology that can be used to capture CO2 and to store it away from the atmosphere. Estimates indicate that we could store at least 100 years’ worth of our CO2 emissions underground. This is possible, for instance, in geological formations deep under the earth’s surface.

MaterialsA second point made by Geerlings in his inaugural speech is the importance of new and improved materials: “Energy research is, to an important extent, materials research.”
According to the professor, in the coming years we can expect a great deal from new materials that will enable the harvesting of sunlight in the form of electricity and hydrogen. In addition, new materials will become available for the efficient storage of these energy carriers. But many other new materials are needed as well, in order to enable such things as improved catalysts, membranes and absorbents.

Storing CO2 the same way Mother Nature does’

Overview