Carbon usage breakthrough claimed

The operation at Tuticorin Alkali Chemicals in southern India involves capture of CO2 from the plant’s boilers which is then used to make soda ash that can be utilised in a wide range of processes.

This is achieved by using a new chemical to strip CO2 from flue gas, invented by the British-based company Carbon Clean. The firm is the brainchild of two Indian chemists who came to the UK with grant support after failing to attract investment in their homeland.

While the new product is only marginally more efficient than the carbon capture and storage chemical amine, the company claims overheads in terms of energy use and equipment are much lower and it is less corrosive.

Interviewed on BBC Radio 4, Tuticorin MD Ramachandran Gopalan stated his site produced almost no emissions to air or water as a result of the new process.

A key factor in promoting the technology is likely to be the lack of subsidy required. Previous attempts to develop carbon capture technology have often been dependent on government support and involved substantial costs.

Significant cuts to CCS were made by the UK government at the end of 2015, including scrapping a ring-fenced budget of £1bn.

In the United States the FutureGen project was recently scrapped after a commitment of more than $1 billion from the public purse, of which a tenth was actually invested.

However, President-elect Trump has signalled his interest in the promotion of a “clean coal” policy to protect the sector.

Carbon Clean has said it believes CO2 capture could account for up to 10% of world coal emissions.