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Review of European energy policies regarding the recent “carbon capture, utilization and storage” technologies scenario and the role of coal seams

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Abstract

European energy policy has made an effort in the last years in developing a coherent strategy towards the definition of a set of goals, involving the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and, at the same time, increasing renewable energy use. This paper presents the different options of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies regarding the legislative initiatives implemented in the new European energy policy. This new European energy strategy was established taking into consideration not only energy demand but also social and environmental requirements. Taking that into account, the different strategies adopted by the European energy council are discussed and an overview of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies—a mitigation strategy able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions—and the CO2 potential utilization were also addressed. Conventional and unconventional CO2 geological storage/sequestration reservoirs are analysed, taking into consideration the different properties of both types of reservoirs. Finally, it is possible to conclude that coal seams must play a major role in CCS/CCUS technologies, since coal is considered as an efficient technological solution to CO2 geological storage/sequestration.

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Acknowledgments

M. J. Lemos de Sousa is indebted to the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon for his appointment as the Portuguese representative in the European Academies Science Advisory Council—EASAC working group responsible for the report entitled “Carbon capture and storage in Europe” (2013). The authors are grateful to Fundação Fernando Pessoa/Fernando Pessoa University for supporting this investigation in the scope of the UFP Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit (FP-ENAS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Fernando Pessoa, Praça Nove de Abril 349, 4249-004, Porto, Portugal

    Cristina Fernanda Alves Rodrigues, Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis & Manuel João Lemos de Sousa

  2. Academy of Sciences of Lisbon, Rua da Academia das Ciências 19, 1249-122, Lisbon, Portugal

    Manuel João Lemos de Sousa

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  1. Cristina Fernanda Alves Rodrigues
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  2. Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis
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  3. Manuel João Lemos de Sousa
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Correspondence to Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis.

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Rodrigues, C.F.A., Dinis, M.A.P. & Lemos de Sousa, M.J. Review of European energy policies regarding the recent “carbon capture, utilization and storage” technologies scenario and the role of coal seams. Environ Earth Sci 74, 2553–2561 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4275-0

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