RESULTS AND FULL FUEL-CYCLE STUDY PLANS FROM THE IEA GREENHOUSE-GAS RESEARCH-AND-DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Fourteen countries have signed an agreement to take part in an initial three-year programme of research and development aimed at potential mitigation techniques in response to the issue of global warming. Formed under the aegis of the International Energy Agency (IEA), the programme brings together those countries interested in establishing the techniques, costs, and environmental consequences of removing CO2 and other greenhouse gases from fossil fuel-based power station flue gases and storing or otherwise disposing of them. The programme has evaluated many fossil fuel power generation options, with the technologies required for CO2 removal. Using the technical and economic results from these studies the programme has recently commenced a detailed specification for a series of full scale 'full fuel cycle' studies. The programme will culminate in proposals aimed at demonstration facilities should any of the full fuel cycle technologies show sufficient promise. In addition, the programme could be expanded to look in more detail at CO2 disposal options and the question of methane and its contribution to global warming. The project structure and work programme to date are described in outline and a summary of the results to date is given, with an overview of all of the technologies involved.