Health & Safety advice is issued on transporting carbon, as Carbon Capture and Storage rules are shaped
Health and safety chiefs are considering whether to classify carbon dioxide as a "dangerous" substance, as ground rules are shaped for potential new carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems in the power sector.
New guidance from the Health and Safety Executive out this month has recommended that developers of CCS systems should treat carbon dioxide "as if" it is a dangerous fluid or substance in planning safeguards. The new guidelines provide interim advice before officials make a final decision on how to regulate the transportation of the greenhouse gas under pipeline safety laws and hazardous substance regulations.
Four companies or consortia are currently bidding to set up the UK's first demonstration project for a CCS system to capture carbon dioxide from a coal-fired power station. There are a variety of approaches possible for capturing the climate change agent from fossil fuels, either before or after combustion. But with the technology at a very early stage in its development, there are still no real guidelines or standards for how to transport captured carbon dioxide. The HSE itself concedes that UK experience of dealing with the gas is "limited" so far. There is some experience in the US of using carbon dioxide to dislodge oil from difficult oilfields, but even this activity offers "limited" experience, the Executive warned.
Carbon dioxide is relatively harmless at room temperature and pressure - it is the gas that makes drinks fizzy. But captured from large-scale power generation projects, is likely to be transported at high pressure within pipelines, which presents very different challenges. One fear is what happens when there is a change in conditions or sudden loss of pressure in a pipeline. Carbon dioxide has some unusual properties - for example changing from a gas directly to a solid (commonly known as "dry ice") at low temperatures or pressures, without going through a liquid phase. This poses the risk of steel pipework fracturing, and could also see the "grit blasting" of pipelines.
The HSE said in its interim guidance that companies should handle carbon dioxide as though it were regular natural gas. However, the officials highlight the fact that while carbon dioxide may not be flammable like natural gas, it is potentially toxic and highly corrosive - especially if there is any moisture present. The advice states: "Because there are currently no suitable guidelines or standards it has been suggested that industry treat carbon dioxide pipelines as though they are conveying natural gas. However the hazards are very different, and in doing so, the designers and developers of CCS and sequestration projects need to keep in mind that whereas natural gas is a flammable, potentially explosive substance, carbon dioxide is both toxic and an asphyxiant."
The companies bidding to set up a CCS demonstration plant - which includes E.ON's Kingsnorth coal power station among the bidders - will have to provide technical information on their proposed transport systems for carbon dioxide "throughout the project", the HSE said.
The information will help to inform the development of new UK health and safety standards, the officials added. In the mean time, the HSE is working with government departments including BERR - the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform - to determine exactly how to regulate the transport of large volumes of carbon dioxide towards storage facilities or alternative use. In particular, they are looking at how CCS developers should comply with the Pipelines Safety Regulations of 1996 and the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations of 1999.
They believe captured carbon dioxide will most likely be transported by pipeline, but although some pipeline codes do include the gas among controls, the HSE said they do not anticipate the bulk volumes of carbon dioxide expected to arise from CCS projects. Companies developing the technology claim that they can remove up to 90% of carbon dioxide generated from fossil fuel combustion. The four projects bidding to establish a first CCS demonstration project in the UK, shortlisted by the government in June, are led by BP Alternative Energy International Ltd, EON UK plc, Peel Power Ltd and Scottish Power Generation Ltd.
Related Link: Interim Guidance on conveying Co2: news.hse.gov.uk/2008/08/19/interim-guidance-on-conveying-co2-in-pipelines/
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British are "bored" with Climate Change
A new energy report suggests that British people are less environmentally conscious than they were five years ago.
4 out of 10 britons take no action at all to reduce their household carbon emissions, and twice as many people are now "bored" by talk of climate change as in 2005. Experts warn that green fatigue is one of the major reasons as to why there are more cars on the roads, more planes in the sky and no reductions in the mountain of packaging waste. The report reveals that too few people are making an effort to reduce their household CO2 emissions and environmentalists believe the recession is further undermining public commitment.
The report, by market researchers Mintel, shows that many of Britain's 26 million homes fail to make simple adjustments such as switching off lights, turning down thermostats, and switching off appliances rather than leaving them on standby. The findings also reveal that people are less willing to spend money on energy-efficient appliances than they were five years ago. Analysts believe the recession together with a backlash against "extreme" environmentalist pressure has reduced people's enthusiasm to combat climate change.
The report also found that resistance to saving the planet was greater among men; one in four said they think there is too much concern over the environment, compared with one in six women.
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More information on the 2016 definition of "Zero Carbon".
Housing Minister, Grant Shapps announced additional information about the new definition of "Zero Carbon".
The Government plans to investigate setting up a community energy fund which will be used to pay for district heating and renewable energy schemes.
Developers who pay into the fund will not have to install onsite renewables or microgeneration equipment. Many developers have welcomed the flexibility of paying into a fund rather than grappling with renewables on each site.
However, the full definition of 'zero-carbon' has once again been delayed. This is despite a pre-election promise to get the definition of zero carbon finalised “within weeks” of getting into office.
The new Government Housing Minister has recently announced that the coalition will review the level of on-site renewables required - before publishing the final definition of the standard, which all new homes will have to reach after 2016.
In the announcement, the Minister also re-affirmed his commitment to all new homes being zero-carbon from 2016 and confirmed the introduction of the ‘Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard' which requires a minimum standard in relation to insulation levels and air tightness and thermal bridging in buildings.
Zero carbon is required of all Code for Sustainable Homes level six homes. Clarification of what zero carbon will mean is still to be decided.
If you require assistance with your Code for Sustainable Homes level requirements, contact Ecowise - we are a fully accredited Code for Sustainable Homes assessment organisation.
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Pilot Tidal Energy Scheme for North Wales Coast
Conwy County Borough Council has backed plans for a pilot tidal energy scheme off the North Wales Coast.
The £150 million scheme at Llanddulas in North Wales would provide a testing facility for turbine designers and manufacturers, and assess the environmental impact of turbines.
The project was given approval by the council as part of a strategic regeneration strategy for the Conwy coast, prepared by consultant Capita Symonds.
Paul Terry, Capita Symonds, said: "Tidal power will play a key role in providing a sustainable energy source for future generations. The North Wales coast is an ideal place for such a scheme as it’s blessed with a good tidal range and suitable ocean depth." He added that the project could also help protect the coast from rising sea levels, storm surges and coastal erosion.
The regeneration strategy also calls for seven new visitor centres costing £30m should be built at key locations stretching from Conwy to Rhuddlan. But North Wales Tourism chairman Chris Jackson raised doubts over whether the proposals could realistically be funded in the current economic climate. The council’s approval now means that Capita Symonds will seek funding for feasibility studies and investigations to develop a business case for the scheme.
