CSIRO Science Image

In a traditional coal fired power station less than 40% of the energy in the coal is converted to electricity. Power station flue gases are filtered to remove dust and then vented to the atmosphere. These gases contain around 10 to 20% CO2.

When Post Combustion Capture (PCC) technology is integrated into the power station it enables the capture of up to 95 percent of CO2 created during energy production. After cooling and cleaning the flue gas, the CO2 is captured, compressed and cooled to form a liquid.

Carbon capture and storage in geological formations is being examined around the world as one way of stabilising atmospheric levels of CO2.

See image NK3956 for a depiction of conventional power station and image NK3958 for a depiction of geosequestration.

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