Alberta Changes the CO2 imperative
- Details
- Written by: Gregory Wrightstone
- Category: Climate Science
- Hits: 2230
On November 2, Alberta’s ruling United Conservative Party (UCP) approved a resolution stating, in part:
“CO2 is a nutrient foundational for all life on Earth…The earth needs more CO2 to support life and to increase plant yields, both of which contribute to the Health and Prosperity [sic] of all Albertans.”
A UCP member speaking in favor of the resolution stated:
“According to the CO2 Coalition, higher CO2 levels have led to healthier crops and improved food security worldwide.”
The resolution recommended that the Government of Alberta should:
- Abandon Net Zero targets
- Remove the designation of CO2 as a pollutant
- Recognize that CO2 is a foundational nutrient for all life on Earth
As you can imagine, this did not sit well with the climate alarmist community. DeSmog Blog called us “the notorious CO2 Coalition.” Another stated:
“The CO2 Coalition, an organization that promotes the view of carbon dioxide as beneficial, appears to have influenced Resolution 12. During the UCP’s annual general meeting, a member advocating for the resolution cited the CO2 Coalition, stating that ‘higher CO₂ levels have led to healthier crops and improved food security worldwide.’ This reference suggests that the CO2 Coalition’s materials and messaging contributed to shaping the arguments and rationale behind the UCP’s decision to reclassify CO₂ and abandon net-zero emission targets.”
But wait… there’s more:
“The US-based Coalition must be squirming in their dampened seats in excitement at having the home of the oil sands not just be a hot bed of interest in their antediluvian, a-scientific perspective, but actually changing the official policy of the ruling party. I’m sure that gasoline soaked paper bags were being passed around at what passes for the Coalition’s headquarters, huffing cancer-causing hydrocarbons clearly being their drug of choice.”
This commentary was first published in the CO2 Coalition Newsletter (email subscription available on our homepage).
Gregory Wrightstone is a geologist; executive director of the CO2 Coalition, Arlington, VA; author of Inconvenient Facts: The Science That Al Gore Doesn’t Want You to Know and the soon-to-be-published book, A Very Convenient Warming – How Modest Warming and More CO2 are Benefiting Humanity.
Bio-Methane for CHP
- Details
- Written by: J C Burke
- Category: Biomethane CHP
- Hits: 2965
Bio-Methane is simply methane generated from organic wastes {in an oxygen starved environment}. Methane capture from coal mines, and methane from other sources {such as tapping into waste-dumps} is a welcome strategy to utilise the enormous amount of waste, we produce. Estimated at 105bn tonnes globally by the World Bio-Gas Association {see article re -methane here on new tab - close to return here}.
However, it is perfectly OK to use methane from oil/gas exploration too - and with the UK's highly extensive gas grid, its all carried together to provide primary energy. Energy that is easily stored. Unlike that secondary energy source - electricity - which we will discuss further later.
But CHP? Combined Heat AND Power {and sometimes cooling}
We have tried to introduce CHP previously, as an important and strategic alternative to Centralised Electricity Generation. There are major disadvantages with centralised generation;
- Inefficiency discussed previously here {click} and again here {click} and cooling towers explained here {click}
- Instability
- Storage Problems
- Supply to Match Demand Problems Nationally
Bio-Methane for CHP Heat Networks
- Details
- Written by: J C Burke
- Category: Biomethane CHP
- Hits: 5065
Bio-Methane is simply methane generated from organic wastes {in an oxygen starved environment}. Methane capture from coal mines, and methane from other sources {such as tapping into waste-dumps} is a welcome strategy to utilise the enormous amount of waste, we produce. Estimated at 105bn tonnes globally by the World Bio-Gas Association {see article re -methane here on new tab - close to return here}.
However, it is perfectly OK to use methane from oil/gas exploration too - and with the UK's highly extensive gas grid, its all carried together to provide primary energy. Energy that is easily stored. Unlike that secondary energy source - electricity - which we will discuss further later.
But CHP? Combined Heat AND Power {and sometimes cooling}
We have tried to introduce CHP previously, as an important and strategic alternative to Centralised Electricity Generation. There are major disadvantages with centralised generation;
- Inefficiency discussed previously here {click} and again here {click} and cooling towers explained here {click}
- Instability
- Storage Problems
- Supply to Match Demand Problems Nationally
Geothermal Congress 2025
- Details
- Written by: J C Burke
- Category: Alternative Energy
- Hits: 2922
European Geothermal Congress {EGC 2025} is calling for abstracts that explore all aspects of geothermal energy use: power generation, heating and cooling supply, underground thermal storage, and mineral extraction. We are interested in both technological and socio-economic aspects.
The programme is divided into four thematic streams, each designed to cover specific aspects of geothermal energy.
Why submit an abstract?
- International Visibility: Present your work to a diverse audience and gain recognition in the geothermal community.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with experts, researchers, and professionals from around the world.
- Make an Impact: Contribute to the advancement and promotion of geothermal energy as a sustainable solution.
Conference Streams
- Research and Development (TRL: 1-5)
- Technology and Innovation (TRL: 6-9)
- Geothermal Solutions for Energy System Integration
- Financing, Regulations, Policy, Communications, and Market
Submission Deadline: 15 October 2024
Methane Reduction Strategies
- Details
- Written by: J C Burke
- Category: Decarbonisation vs Waste Reduction
- Hits: 3584
Methane Emissions Management will be far more beneficial than trying to reduce CO2
Well, let's look at the evidence:
"With the 2030 deadline to achieve the Global Methane Pledge to cut methane levels by at least 30% from 2020 levels, signed by 155 countries, now just over 5.5 years away, we need to urgently accelerate the expansion of biogas globally."
"Treating and recycling the 105bn tonnes of organic wastes generated by humans every year, of which 98% remain untreated and emitting methane as they break down, can deliver 50% of the Global Methane Pledge; sufficient green gas to replace one third of today’s fossil gas consumption; replace 105bn tonnes of inorganic fertiliser; provide sufficient nutrient to fertilise 700 million hectares of arable land and create 10-15 million jobs worldwide."
World Biogas Association {WBA} and supported in the UK by The Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association {ADBA}
However the WBA's assertion will not include the other global sources of methane, and here we have a problem. So many claims of the "damage" but no real independent total of this hydro-carbon's presence globally. Indeed the theory of Abiotic Generation would seem to fit the evidence of large scale hydrocarbons in our solar system.
So where else is methane coming from on Earth?
Coal Mine Methane Emissions
DrivingDownCoalMineMethaneEmissions.pdf
Vulcanism
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/
volcanism million of years ago methane thoughts
Methane Hydrates
Oil and Gas Industry
- Leakage and Failures
- scientists-detect-record-breaking-methane-leak-in-kazakhstan-the-largest-ever-documented
- We can say that there are others in this industry sector
- Natural Sedimentary Basins
- Darvaza Gas Crater
- Can we presume there are others?
Clearly these volumes of methane are astronomical! But no amount of 'government pledges' are going to control most of these naturally occurring 'contributions'! Indeed we should argue that the oil and gas industry needs to 'up their game' and control much more methane than they have done! To put methane to use within the realms of ENERGY PRODUCTION and TRANSPORT Fuels would seem to be a wise move(??).
UPDATE 11th August 2024: However, it has been shown recently that there are Methane 'Sinks'; Methane consuming bacteria has been found within tree bark! All the more reason for re-forestation. by Luke C. Jeffrey, Damien T. Maher, Eleonora Chiri, Pok Man Leung, Philipp A. Nauer, Stefan K. Arndt, Douglas R. Tait, Chris Greening & Scott G. Johnston
"".......Finally, field-based methane oxidation inhibition experiments demonstrate that bark-dwelling MOB [methane-oxidising bacteria] reduce methane emissions by 36 ± 5 %. These multiple complementary lines of evidence indicate that bark-dwelling MOB represent a potentially significant methane sink, and an important frontier for further research.""
Reaserch article citation here at this link {on a new tab}
View, read or Download summary research at this link {See Research Here - again in a new tab}
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