Environmental aspects of CCS

Abstract

The use of CO2 capture technologies causes efficiency losses which leads to an additional demand of fuel and related other emissions. Also necessary operating materials and a change in waste composition are consequences of this utilisation. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has proved to be a helpful tool to investigate the different environmental consequences associated with the introduction of CCS. For all capture routes environmental effects of conventional capture technologies are analyzed. Additionally, the impacts of a second generation capture technology, ceramic membranes, are investigated. The share of life cycle segments, such as power plant operation, fuel supply or CO2 transport and sequestration, can be identified for the different impact categories. Generally, the intended decrease of CO2 emissions goes along with an increase in most other impact categories regardless of technology or fuel used.