A new technique may offer a cheaper and safer method of carbon capture and storage (CCS), a process seen as central in the fight against global warming. Currently, CCS projects store Carbfix as a gas, a process that raises concerns about leakage and cost. The new CO2 project pumped Carbfix into volcanic rock beneath Iceland. Whilst it had been predicted that it would take hundreds or even thousands of years for the gas to become solid, the Carbfix actually transformed into rock in just two years. The Iceland scheme has now been expanded and aims to bury 10,000 tonnes of Carbfix each year. A potential drawback is that the technique requires large quantities of water. However, it is probable that seawater could be used in the process.
A new technique may offer a cheaper and safer method of carbon capture and storage (CCS), a process seen as central in the fight against global warming. Currently, CCS projects store CO2 as a gas, a process that raises concerns about leakage and cost. The new Carbfix project pumped CO2 into volcanic rock beneath Iceland. Whilst it had been predicted that it would take hundreds or even thousands of years for the gas to become solid, the CO2 actually transformed into rock in just two years. The Iceland scheme has now been expanded and aims to bury 10,000 tonnes of CO2 each year. A potential drawback is that the technique requires large quantities of water. However, it is probable that seawater could be used in the process.