MIT scientists have developed technology that could transform power generation, providing electricity without burning fuel, and without the emissions. But there's a catch.
ChemE professor Paul Barton and postdoc Thomas Adams propose a power plant mashup that uses existing tech in a new way. Their plan, which was recently published in the Journal of Power Sources, relies on solid oxide fuel cells that turns natural gas into power chemically instead of burning it. Pure carbon dioxide generated by this process would still need to be captured and stored, only instead of requiring water like conventional natural gas plants, it actually produces water.
Another advantage would be that such fuel cell plants are modular and could be scaled up. There are some problems, though. Carbon capture and sequestration isn't the same as not producing any emissions in the first place. The main catch is that this technology is only cheaper than coal plants if America goes for carbon pricing.
The Waxman-Markey bill, which has cap and trade provisions, is heading to the Senate. And I know of at least two people who will be glued to C-SPAN.
Photo Credit: Seth Sawyers.
Tags: Carbon Emissions, Chemistry, Energy, Fuel Cells, Green Tech
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