Engineering challenges of ocean liming

Renforth, Philip, Jenkins, B. G. and Kruger, T. 2013. Engineering challenges of ocean liming. Energy 60 , pp. 442-452. 10.1016/j.energy.2013.08.006

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Abstract

The relationship between the level of atmospheric CO2 (carbon dioxide) and the impacts of climate change is uncertain, but a safe concentration may be surpassed this century. Therefore, it is necessary to develop technologies that can accelerate CO2 removal from the atmosphere. This paper explores the engineering challenges of a technology that manipulates the carbonate system in seawater by the addition of calcium oxide powder (CaO; lime), resulting in a net sequestration of atmospheric CO2 into the ocean (ocean liming; OL). Every tonne of CO2 sequestered requires between 1.4 and 1.7 t of limestone to be crushed, calcined, and distributed. Approximately 1 t of CO2 would be created from this activity, of which >80% is a high purity gas (pCO2 > 98%) amenable to geological storage. It is estimated that the thermal and electrical energy requirements for OL would be 0.6–5.6 and 0.1–1.2 GJ tCO2−1 captured respectively. A preliminary economic assessment suggests that OL could cost approximately US$72–159 t−1 of CO2. The additional CO2 burden of OL makes it a poor alternative to point source mitigation. However, it may provide a means to mitigate some diffuse emissions and reduce atmospheric concentrations.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Earth and Environmental Sciences
Subjects:	T Technology > TC Hydraulic engineering. Ocean engineering
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Carbon dioxide removal; Geoengineering; Lime; Ocean acidification
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0360-5442
Last Modified:	09 May 2023 08:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/60899

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