Today the human being faces a dilemma of epic proportions that has a difficult answer as it is to satisfy his energy needs. In this way, many are those who bet to get the energy we need in any way, while there are many who think that it is best to get reduce CO2 emissions as fast as possible even if we lose a lot of other things along the way.
The truth is that the best, or perhaps the most sensible position on this issue, is to find that middle point that, unfortunately and on many occasions, does not satisfy those interested in a path or those who have a completely different opinion. We have a very clear example in the use of renewable, a technology that although it is there, the truth is that it has too high a cost to be a real alternative to both nuclear energy and the consumption of fossil fuels.
Finding a middle ground can be tricky, although perhaps proposals like NetPower's can be very helpful
Far from trying to talk about whether or not it is appropriate to start using nuclear energy or fossil fuels in favor of renewable energies, even little by little and with investments that are made annually, a debate that we are already too busy accustomed and that, it seems that in Spain has finally come up with certain regulations by which, getting energy in a clean way is engraved with taxes.
Today I want to talk to you about NetPower, a company that seems to be able to bring the positions closer thanks to a quite interesting idea although, as there are already many voices that comment on this, it still has to prove that what they promise is real. To paraphrase the owner of the company: “at first they didn't even return my calls as people considered this new electrical energy to be too good to be true".
NetPower plants will be dedicated to burning CO2 from the atmosphere
The idea that they have in NetPower and that seems so difficult to get to investors is to create a power plant that has the ability to trap the CO2 present in the atmosphere to pressurize it until it becomes a liquid. Once this is achieved, this CO2 will be burned to get it to evaporate while moving turbines that are responsible for generating electricity. The result of using captured carbon dioxide as fuel in these power plants would make the extra emissions that are produced do not contribute to continue increasing the presence of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere.
As a detail, tell you that these power plants would not only be dedicated to transforming CO2 into electrical current but, as the current manager of NetPower indicates, this carbon dioxide captured from the atmosphere can be sold. According to the studies carried out, this type of power plant would have the ability to trap on the 1.1 trillion metric tons, a very interesting amount that, without a doubt, would help to fight against climate change.
Is a project like the one proposed to us by NetPower viable?
Apparently and according to the studies carried out, to make the idea proposed by NetPower interesting enough in economic terms about 30 plants would be needed, This quantity would make your costs as low as a coal power plant.
For now, just tell you that, despite the fact that a millionaire investment would be needed, the idea already has companies interested in the project, such as Toshiba. For now we will have to wait until the tests begin on the pilot power plant that NetPower is building in the city of Houston (United States), at which point we will know if the idea is truly interesting or if it is just that, an attraction draft.