Scientists have found that biochar production could be a viable way to sequester carbon and produce renewable energy. The study's life-cycle analysis suggests several biochar systems have the potential for economic viability.
Clemson University researchers are studying safe storage of carbon dioxide in geological formations to reduce global warming emissions. They will focus on identifying conditions that may lead to leakage and developing techniques to minimize its impact.
Researchers will study the entire power plant system to identify opportunities for energy and cost savings in carbon capture and compression. The goal is to recover heat generated during compression and use it to improve power plant efficiency.
The US Department of Energy has awarded $151 million in funding to 37 ambitious energy research projects. These projects aim to develop transformative innovations in energy storage, biofuels, carbon capture, renewable power, building efficiency, vehicles, and other energy technology areas.
Researchers developed nanosized capsules compatible with various substances for medicine and energy applications. The capsules can carry anticancer drugs or medical-imaging agents to specific locations within the human body. A highly sensitive oxygen sensor was also created, detecting minute amounts of oxygen in confined spaces.
Scientists have discovered a bowl-shaped molecule that can pull carbon dioxide out of the air, offering new possibilities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The molecule's unique properties make it suitable for industrial use in removing CO2 from ambient air and potentially even from living organisms.
Researchers have decoded the genomes of two tiny algal strains, highlighting their genes that enable them to capture carbon and maintain its delicate balance in the oceans. The study also sheds light on how these algae may cope with environmental change.
CO2 GeoNet, Europe's Network of Excellence, presents five years of research and development on geological carbon dioxide storage. The network aims to accelerate CCS deployment and build confidence in various CO2 storage technologies.
Researchers have discovered a new mechanism behind the catalytic effects of carbon nanomaterials in hydrogen storage. The breakthrough could lead to more efficient and sustainable methods for producing, storing, and using hydrogen.
Researchers have created a new model to calculate how much CO2 can be stored safely in geological formations, with potential applications for large-scale carbon sequestration projects. The tool predicts the migration of CO2 plumes and can help policymakers make informed decisions about storage sites.
Researchers at MU and MRI develop new hydrogen storage material using corncobs and boron, increasing storage capacity and reducing tank size. The project aims to create more flexible and less bulky fuel tanks for vehicles.
The RAND Corporation study concludes that oil sands and coal-to-liquids have the potential to ease upward pressures on oil prices and expand global fuel supplies. However, these alternatives also pose significant environmental risks, including water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers found that MOF materials compress rapidly at high pressures due to their efficient but inefficient structure design. This behavior is critical to optimize gas storage properties and pose a challenge for scaling up MOF technology beyond the lab.
Researchers estimate that forests in the upper Midwest can store an average of 1,300 pounds of carbon per acre per year, with some regions storing over 350,000 tons annually. Effective forest management can sustain or increase this capacity for future generations.
University of Michigan researchers are accelerating the natural process of succession by removing mature aspen and birch trees to measure future carbon uptake in a large-scale experiment. This will help determine how much heat-trapping carbon dioxide forests of the Upper Midwest can remove from the air in coming decades.
Scientists at Newcastle University have developed a highly energy-efficient technology to convert waste carbon dioxide (CO2) into cyclic carbonates, which can be used in various industrial applications. The technology has the potential to use up to 48 million tonnes of waste CO2 per year, reducing UK emissions by about four percent.
A recent study by Brown University scientists found that higher plant diversity significantly enhances an ecosystem's productivity, capturing more carbon dioxide and reducing global warming. The researchers also discovered that the number of plant species in a natural environment has a positive correlation with ecosystem productivity.
UCLA chemists have developed a new class of materials called zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) that can selectively capture carbon dioxide, storing it like a reservoir. ZIFs outperform current porous carbon materials, capturing five times more carbon dioxide and requiring less energy.
A new study led by UK scientists aims to reduce China's CO2 emissions from coal use, which are set to double by 2030. The 'Near Zero Emissions Coal' project uses carbon capture and storage technology to achieve up to a 90% reduction in emissions.
A tiny green alga has uncovered hundreds of genes associated with carbon dioxide capture and generation of biomass. The genome also sheds light on the capabilities of related algae that can produce biodiesel and biocrude as alternatives to fossil fuels.
The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research found that CO2 capture and storage can avoid up to 80-110 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. The technology has significant potential in various sectors, including energy, industry, and transport.
A University of Texas at Austin researcher has developed a more economical technology to capture carbon dioxide from coal-fueled power plants, which could lead to a 90% reduction in emissions. The project is being supported by a $1.8M donation from TXU Power.
The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute will expand its research capability with a new Global Earth Observatory system, increasing the quality of scientific data across 20 large-scale research plots in 17 countries. The grant will enable the Center for Tropical Forest Science to compare climate change and forest carbon data.
Scientists at Harvard University discover deep-sea sediments can permanently store man-made carbon dioxide, with US seafloor holding vast reserves. The method involves injecting CO2 into sediment layers, creating a stable and secure storage system.
Research papers explore the effects of glacier shrinkage on alpine uplift, challenge previous theories on the mantle transition zone, and use stratospheric oxygen/nitrogen ratios to constrain carbon uptake budgets by the biosphere and ocean. Mineral dust aerosol emission is also enhanced by electric forces.
Dutch citizens rated various energy technologies with CO2 storage as having consequences between 6.0 and 6.5, indicating acceptance. Informed opinions were more stable than uninformed ones, which were deemed 'pseudo opinions' that don't reflect public acceptance.
Researchers have developed a remote-sensing technology that uses the spectral quality of light reflected from plant leaves to detect gas leaks. This technology can also be used to monitor environmental effects and ensure public acceptability and safety in carbon capture and storage schemes.
A new study by Northeastern University researcher Kevin G. Harrison found that soil carbon levels increased by an average of 14% under elevated CO2 levels. This discovery has the potential to improve global warming forecast models, which have been hindered by slower-than-expected increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide.
A four-year study by the Petroleum Technology Research Centre has concluded that large-scale CO2 storage is safe and can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The study found that most of the injected CO2 will remain in the reservoir, with minimal risk to overlying water zones or the atmosphere.
The IEA GHG Weyburn project, a $40 million research initiative, involved 24 organizations in Canada, Europe, and the US, producing over 470 deliverables. The project's findings demonstrate the feasibility of large-scale CO2 capture and storage.
A new report finds that nitrogen availability is a critical factor in ecosystem carbon storage, with current limitations hindering the natural systems' ability to mitigate climate change. The study suggests that we need to incorporate these limits into our models and reduce our reliance on natural ecosystems to combat carbon emissions.
A Duke University study found that carbon dioxide-enriched air accelerates pine tree reproduction, resulting in earlier maturation and higher seed production. This trend may have significant implications for forest regeneration and the Southeast's economy, where loblollies are a crucial forest product.
Purdue researchers are developing automotive and portable air-conditioning systems that use environmentally friendly carbon dioxide as a refrigerant. Carbon dioxide is promising for small and light-weight systems, such as automotive or portable air conditioners.
Researchers modeled US ecosystem carbon budget using state-of-the-art data and models, finding small uptake of carbon despite high emissions. The results suggest that ecosystems in the US store carbon, but not enough to balance fossil fuel use, making other regions important for climate change mitigation.
The Earth's oceans are predicted to evaporate within 1 billion years as the sun's temperature increases, leading to a waterless planet. The process is driven by the sun's increasing brightness, which will eventually cause water to evaporate into space.
A new study reveals El Niño dramatically reduced carbon dioxide normally released by the equatorial Pacific Ocean, while also causing extreme biological effects. The research uses data from buoys, ships, and space instruments to monitor ocean productivity and CO2 levels.
A recent study by University of Illinois researchers suggests that including methane in emission-reduction strategies can significantly lower overall costs. The study found that methane can offset carbon dioxide reductions and reduce U.S. abatement costs by more than 25 percent compared to strategies involving carbon dioxide alone.
A Penn State researcher suggests that increasing oxygen levels may have triggered the first of three past episodes when the Earth became a giant snowball, covered from pole to pole by ice and frozen oceans. The study proposes that low methane levels and high carbon dioxide levels were responsible for the glaciation process.
Depleted gas reservoirs can store enough carbon dioxide to limit emissions from fossil fuels for at least 20 years, according to USGS scientist Dr. Robert Burruss. However, capturing, compressing, transporting, and injecting such large amounts of CO2 requires an industry nearly twice the size of the current natural gas industry.
A four-decade study of a Southeastern forest found that while trees take up substantial amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide, the accumulation in soils is relatively slow. The researchers used radioactive Carbon-14 as a tracer to estimate carbon sequestration and found that only a small percentage of carbon was retained in topsoil, wi...
Researchers found that Loblolly pine trees in North Carolina experienced a 12% growth rate increase when exposed to future carbon dioxide levels. However, the growth rate is likely unsustainable as trees adapt to higher CO2 concentrations and soil nutrient limitations.
Scientists at Duke University and colleagues found that high CO2 levels can increase tree growth rates, but the effect is likely temporary. The experiment, which mimics future CO2 levels, shows a 12% increase in forest growth, but growth rates are expected to decline over time as the forest adjusts.
The ORNL pellet blaster uses frozen pellets to strip contaminants from surfaces, leaving no residue. This method is safer and more efficient than traditional paint stripping methods, making it suitable for various industries including defense, aerospace, and manufacturing.
A recent study found that high levels of nitrogen deposition in grasslands lead to the loss of plant species diversity and the disruption of ecosystem functioning. Native prairie species are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of excessive nitrogen addition, which can cause their extinction and reduce carbon storage.
Scientists find that excessive nitrogen deposition in grasslands leads to loss of diversity, extinction of native species, and decreased carbon storage. The study, funded by the National Science Foundation, suggests that nitrogen pollution is a major threat to ecosystem functioning.
Scientists from Brookhaven National Laboratory find that iron supplements can boost phytoplankton productivity, which absorbs 40% of the world's carbon annually. However, adding iron may not have a significant impact on global climate change due to other limiting factors.