Image courtesy of Marcin Jozwiak on Unsplash
Capturing the greenhouse gas emissions that are created by using fossil fuels, called carbon capture has kept scientists busy for decades. Fortunately there has been substantial progress in that quest recently.
Scientists at Tokyo Metropolitan University have been able to convert the captured carbon into green fuel. That’s a tremendous leap forward from capturing the carbon and then storing it in concrete or deep in the Earth. The report was published in the journal EES Catalysis.
As described in the report, the scientists were able to create a formate with the carbon, which can be used in clean-energy fuel cells. Formates are non-combustible and remain stable for months to years, and are easy to store in steel containers.
The current issue the scientists are working to solve is the conversion process demands too much energy. They are now looking at creating an electrochemical cell and it looks promising.
At the same time, what other state than Texas would build the world’s largest carbon capture plant? Thanks to the Biden Administration’s vision for a cleaner and greener environment and economy, the lone star state received tax credits for the plant. Called the STRATOS project, the plant should be up and running by Q2 of 2025.
