Closing the Carbon Cycle for Sustainability
A Key Strategy for Environmental Protection, Energy Security, and Economic Development
Peter Eisenberger Columbia University & Global ThermostatRio+20June 18, 2012
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Table of Contents
• Closing the Carbon Cycle
• Current Approaches
• A Sustainable Solution: Energy from Atmospheric CO2
• Global Thermostat
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Closing the Carbon Cycle
• Sustainability Requires Humans Close the Carbon Cycle
– Climate Sustainability
– Energy Security
– Economic Development
• A Human System that Closes The Carbon Cycle
– Flexibility in location of sources and sinks
– Connectivity between different components
– Serve both todays fossil fuel and tomorrows renewables
– Consistent with existing infrastructure
– Provide net carbon negative technologies to offset carbon emitters
– Value carbon so as to support positive feedbacks
– New types of cooperation between countries and companies
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You need to know where you are going to get there…
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Current Approaches to Climate Change
“Wedges” approach a good start…– Sensible, diversified strategy based on existing pathways– Portfolio of renewable energy and efficiency technologies– Potential to keep CO2 below 500ppm (still 2x pre-indust. level)
But may not be enough to avoid climate change…– Depends on continued net natural absorption rate– Does not address 2000’s already elevated emissions – Underestimates projected growth rate by factor of two– No solution past 2055
Climate will change destructively on its own– Earth history has many climate disasters– New York City under a 1 mile high ice sheet
A safe, effective, and affordable solution to climate change is still urgently needed
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Emissions Scenarios…
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Future Atmospheric Concentrations…
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What Carbon Negative Can Achieve…
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The Cost of Atmospheric CO2…
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Global Thermostat - CONFIDENTIAL
The Need for Going Carbon Negative…
Carbon Neutral is not enough– Neutralizing new and existing
emissions does not prevent atmospheric concentration of CO2 from further increasing
– It doesn’t solve the climate risk problem (reducing atmospheric concentrations below 500 ppm)
Carbon-Negative Required– To reduce atmospheric concentrations
faster than the natural absorption rate– To achieve a safe level of CO2
concentration
Air Capture Can Make Going Carbon Negative Possible
Pacala and Socolow, Science, Vol 305, 8/13/2004, Pg 969. Note: 7 Wedges refers to the seven stabilization wedges, created by Wigley, Richels & Edmonds, necessary to achieve an atmospheric concentration of CO2 of 500 ppm by 2125.
Business as usual
7 Wedges (aggressive renewable energy use, efficiency, point-source sequestration)
Negative Carbon Technology (such as Global Thermostat) with aggressive renewable energy
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A Sustainable Solution
ENERGY SECURITY FOR ALL̶� AIR AND WATER MORE EQUABLY DISTRIBUTED
CONTROL HUMAN CO2 INPUT TO CARBON CYCLE̶� TEMPERATURE CONTROL
GREEN ENERGY FUND STIMULATES ECONOMIC GROWTH̶� STIMULATES TRANSITION TO CLOSING THE CARBON CYCLE̶� MONETIZE THE CO2 SO IT IS A VALUABLE AND NOT A POLLUTANT
Close the carbon cycle –CO2 from air to make the energy we need-
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Applications & Markets for Captured CO2
Storage Enhanced Oil Recovery
Algae-Based Biofuels
Hydrogen-Based Fuels
Products cement, fertilizer, plastics, greenhouses
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Renewable 95: Closing the Carbon Cycle
CO2 Capture&
Hydrogen Conversion
Water Vapor and CO2
95Octane
CONVERTING CO2 FROM AIR & HYDROGEN FROM WATER
TO95 OCTANE GASOLINE
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GT Project with Algae Systems
Desalination
Desalination
CO2
Wastewater
Algae Production
Algae Production
Dewatering
Dewatering
Fuel Production
Fuel Production
Fuels,Electricity &
Biochar
Treated
Wastewater
Drinking
Water
• Produces carbon negative transportation fuels (diesel, jet, etc)• Treats municipal wastewater and produces drinking water• Generates green electricity and biochar fertilizers
GT is developing a fully-integrated biorefinery through a partnership with Algae Systems
This unique combination of technologies provides critical municipal services while producing energy in an embodiment that is
As Green As It Gets
Solar Energ
y
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Geothermal Electricity + CO2
Collaboration with Green Fire Energy– Uses CO2 instead of water– 10-20% of circulating CO2 sequestered
Using CO2 captured by Global Thermostat– Location flexibility of air capture – Economic advantage of locating near use– Increased geothermal locations accessible
Produces Carbon Negative electricity
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CLOSING THE CARBON CYCLE FOR ENERGY, ECONOMIC, AND CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY
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Global Thermostat
Our goal is to provide technology to:̶�Facilitate the transition to a renewable future
• Our Carburetor Technology to Clean Fossil Fuel Sources̶�Provide carbon for the renewable energy future
• Our Direct Air Capture Technology to Close the Carbon Cycle ̶�Provide a common technology platform
• Connects air and concentrated CO2 sources ̶�Make money by doing good
We seek and welcome partners ̶� They have already been essential to our efforts
We are committed to broad dissemination ̶� Licensing model
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“GT CARBON SPONGE”“GT CARBON SPONGE”
Pipes to oil well, algae, etc.
Patented Carbon Sponge: porous block coated with proprietary amine sorbents
Ambient air and/or flue gas goes through and binds to sorbent
Carbon Sponge lowers into sealed chamber
Low temperature process heat releases pure CO2 gas for collection
And the cycle restarts…
How GT Technology Works
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Technology Operation
Adsorption Phase
Regeneration Phase
Ambient air OR Air-flue gas blend
Monolith Contactors + Sorbent “Cartridge”
GT Module
Step 1 Air Input
Step 1 Air Input
•GT uses Corning monolith contactors similar to those in your cars tailpipe
•Contactors provide high surface contact areas at low pressure drop
•Enables movement of large volumes of air with effective contact of CO2 at low cost
•40 minute cycle
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Technology Operation
Step 2 CO2 Capture
Step 2 CO2 Capture
Adsorption Phase
Regeneration Phase
Monolith Contactors + Sorbent “Cartridge”
GT Module•GT sorbents proven highly effective by Georgia Tech - confirmed by SRI, BASF, and NETL
•BASF process to deposit immobilized amines in pores of the contactor walls at high loading
•Dramatically reduces heat required compared to liquid based CCS
Ambient air OR
Air-flue gas blend
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Technology Operation
105C Steam
Step 3
Regeneration
Step 3
Regeneration
CO2 Collection
Adsorption Phase
Regeneration Phase
Monolith Contactors + Sorbent “Cartridge”
GT Module•CO2-rich sorbent is heated with low-temperature process heat (90-105C) steam
•CO2 is collected and sorbent is regenerated
•CO2 can be stored or used in multiple commercial applications
•4 - 10 minute cycle
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Technology Partners
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Partner Activity Relationship Terms
SRI International Pilot plant operation and R&D; lab testing Contract R&D
BASF Sorbent development/supply; lab testing Strategic Supplier
Corning Monolith development/supply Strategic Supplier
Linde Carburetor Pilot/EPC Contractor/Customer EPC Contractor/Customer
Georgia Tech Sorbent R&D; contactor testing Contract R&D
Virgin Atlantic Renewable jet fuel Commercialization partner, customer
Carmagen Engineering
System design, engineering, optimization Contract consulting
Summit Power Project engineering Project development fee
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For Sustainable Carbon-Based Life: Close the Carbon Cycle…
Need Direct Air Capture ̶� Carbon for a sustainable renewable energy future ̶� Flexibility to provide sources and sinks
Need Negative Carbon ̶� Climate Security
Need Carburetor for transition ̶� Short term carbon free products̶� Long term carbon negative products
Need a Green Energy Fund ̶� Global Economic Sustainability
Closing the Carbon Cycle is Key
Carbon dioxide concentration decreasing
The Global ThermostatThe Global Thermostat
ENERGY
COCO2 2
CAPTURECAPTURE
Atmosphere 800
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Graciela ChichilniskyManaging Director
Peter EisenbergerManaging Director
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