Emerging Technologies Flashcards
What does CSS stand for?
Carbon capture and storage
What is the primary purpose of carbon capture and storage technology?
To prevent carbon dioxide (CO2) exhaust from entering the atmosphere.
How does capturing CO2 impact climate change?
It reduces the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
This helps mitigate the effects of fossil fuel combustion.
What is produced when burning fossil fuels?
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
What does trapping and separating entail?
Taking the gas emitted from the process and separating CO2 from the other gases present.
What are the three main ways to capture CO2?
- Post-combustion capture
- Pre-combustion capture
- Oxy-fuel combustion capture
What is required for oxy-fuel combustion capture?
Must have oxygen present.
What does transporting CO2 involve?
Moving the isolated CO2, usually in a liquefied state, to a location for storage.
This is most efficiently done through a system of pipes.
Where can CO2 be transported for storage?
- Dis-used oil well
- Under the sea
What does storage refer to in the context of CO2 capture?
The long-term location for the captured CO2.
Where can CO2 storage be done?
- Underground
- Underwater
What is geo-engineering?
A range of processes that use scientific and technological principles to intervene with the earth’s natural systems to counteract climate change.
What is cloud seeding?
Injecting clouds with substances that encourage the formation of ice crystals, producing rain ‘on demand’.
What are space reflectors?
Devices intended to block a proportion of the sun’s rays from entering the earth’s atmosphere, reducing temperature increases.
What is afforestation?
Engaging in a global scale tree planting effort to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere.
What is biochar?
A process that involves ‘charring’ biomass and burying it to lock up carbon in the soil.
What do bio-photovoltaics involve?
The use of green algae to generate electricity in biological solar cells
What could enhance the future of bio-photovoltaics?
The development of devices with low energy requirements
What process do plants use to convert carbon dioxide into organic compounds?
Energy from the sun’s light in Photosynthesis
