Safety of carbon storage backed by scientists

Recent concerns over the potential threats of carbon capture and storage (CCS) on human health are unnecessary, a study reveals.

Plans to construct underground carbon storage facilities in northern Europe and Canada have been met by fears that carbon dioxide leakage could lead to lethal poisoning. However, researchers in Edinburgh estimated that the probability of such a accident is about one in a million; less than that of winning the UK lottery.

Scientists analysed documents in Italy from previous spontaneous CO2 leaks due to volcanic activity, and concluded that the death toll caused by gas poisoning was very low. With thorough considerations and regulations, CCS is thought to be an exceptionally safe project.

Jennifer Roberts from the University of Edinburgh’s School of GeoSciences, who undertook the work, said: “These Italian CO2 seeps are natural, are often neither sign-posted nor fenced off, and yet there have been remarkably few accidents.”

CCS technology collects CO2 from the emission sites, liquefies it and stores it deep beneath the earth surface instead of directly releasing it into the atmosphere. The greenhouse gas will eventually dissolve in underground water. The storage sites are built so that the gas has to encounter several barriers before reaching the surface.

As the damage caused by global warming rapidly begins to emerge, it is hoped that such technology offers a way to significantly reduce carbon emission. The results of the study would be welcome news to the clean energy industry and may serve as  supportive evidence for further development of CCS.