UK Carbon Capture Technology Showcased by IME

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers has been showcasing new, advanced carbon capture technology with the potential to move the world towards small-scale, comparatively cheap and easily-implementable carbon reduction measures.

Efficiency's a key benefit, too: according to researchers at the Institution, the technology is 1,000 times better at sucking in carbon than a same-sized tree - forests being a natural form of carbon ‘sink'.

UK Carbon Capture Technology

This UK capture carbon technology could have multiple future applications in industrial activities or simply placed in underground storage, according to users' requirements.

The Institution believes carbon capture technology of this kind could be in operation in just seven years time. In advance of this, the technology was demonstrated by its advocates at a public lecture held at the IME's London HQ on 26 October, 2011.

Present were IME representatives including its Head of Environment, Doctor Tim Fox.

IME Carbon Capture

"As this device shows, this breakthrough technology works", Dr Fox was quoted as having said in an IME press release published on the eve of the carbon capture technology's launch.

He continued: "What we need from Government and industry isn't vast amounts of funding, but strategic direction of where this technology could fit in to the strategy for dealing with climate change. Apart from being a vital technology for dealing with difficult to manage emissions like those from aviation and shipping, this technology could also be a vital tool for setting a definitive price for CO2.

He concluded: "Air capture technology can handle any type of CO2 emission from all sources, so would set an upper limit for a CO2 price and help drive down the costs of renewable energy."

Earlier this month, the UK government withdrew from a plan to invest in a CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) project to be progressed in Scotland. More recently, a new study was released highlighting public support for Solar Radiation Management - one form of climate-altering geo-engineering.

Image copyright and courtesy of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers