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Niels Peter Christensen

Bio: Niels Peter Christensen is an academic researcher from Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland. The author has contributed to research in topics: European union & Carbon sequestration. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 5 publications receiving 1134 citations.

Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a set of definitions and methodologies for the assessment of CO2 storage capacity in geological media is presented, including coal beds and deep saline aquifers, and the level of detail and resolution required in the data make reliable and accurate estimation of the storage capacity of these media practical only at the local and site-specific scales.

824 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (www.cslforum.org) as mentioned in this paper has proposed a set of guidelines for estimation of CO2 storage capacity, which will greatly assist future deliberations by government and industry on the appropriateness of geological storage in different geological settings.

414 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Two projects are now under way in the European Union to assess the potential CO2 storage capacity of the main sedimentary basins within Europe, known as GESTCO, which will examine in detail the geological storage potential and coincidence of CO2 emission sources to storage sites.
Abstract: The member countries of the European Union plan to reduce their CO2 emissions in accordance with the international protocol agreed in Kyoto in 1997. The accepted options for doing this include fuel switching, improving energy efficiency, and the introduction of renewable energy sources. Geological storage of CO2 from fossil fuel use is also an option to reduce CO2 emissions, which does not require major changes in the energy infrastructure. Two projects are now under way in the European Union to study the potential for geological CO2 storage. The first project, known as GESTCO, will assess the potential CO2 storage capacity of the main sedimentary basins within Europe. GESTCO will examine in detail the geological storage potential and coincidence of CO2 emission sources to storage sites. In the North Sea the world’s first commercial geological storage project has now been in operation for 3 years. The natural gas from the Sleipner West field contains about 9% CO2, which must be reduced to 2.5% before sale. The CO2 is stripped by an amine scrubbing plant and then injected into a deep saline reservoir about 800 m below the seabed. To date, about 3 million tonnes of CO2 have been injected. To monitor the storage of CO2 in the reservoir, a project entitled Saline Aquifer CO2 Storage commenced in April 1998.

82 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
20 Jul 2004
TL;DR: The European potential for the Geological Storage of CO2 from fossil fuel combustion (GESTCO) project as discussed by the authors was the first effort to evaluate the potential of underground CO2 storage in Europe.
Abstract: GESTCO is an acronym for European potential for the Geological Storage of CO2 from fossil fuel combustion. The project formed part of the ENERGIE Programme of the European Union 5th Framework and was concluded in 2003. The Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) led the project, with the national geological surveys of Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway and UK as research partners (Fig. 1). The primary goal of the GESTCO project was to determine whether the geological storage of carbon dioxide captured at large industrial plants is a viable method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Europe (Christensen 2000; Gale et al. 2001; Christensen & Holloway 2003). This was evaluated by a series of case studies that assessed the CO2 storage potential of saline aquifers, geothermal reservoirs, coal seams and oil and gas reservoirs. The case study approach was used so that currently available, largely theoretical, generic information could be applied to real geological situations. In addition aspects of safety and environment, conflicts of using underground space and public and stakeholder perception were evaluated. Secondary goals of the GESTCO project were to establish an inventory of major CO2 point sources in Europe and a Decision Support System (DSS) to serve as an economic analysis tool for CO2 storage in Europe. Inventory of large CO2 point sources Major industrial sources of CO2 in the participating countries were identified and compiled into a database. In almost all countries, the major sources of CO2 are power plants,

9 citations

Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 2003
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present data for a possible future aquifer storage site in Denmark and evaluate the entire CO2 sequestration system including nature and characteristics of the geological structure, CO2 point sources, transport, and injection system.
Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter presents data for a possible future aquifer storage site in Denmark and evaluates the entire CO2 sequestration system including nature and characteristics of the geological structure, CO2 point sources, transport, and injection system Over the past two years, the potential for underground storage of CO2 in Denmark has been evaluated as part of the European Community supported research project GESTCO (Geological storage of CO2 from fossil fuel combustion) The Danish part of the study comprised the storage potential of hydrocarbon fields, deep saline aquifers, and a combined application in geothermal energy systems Two main options exist with respect to geological sequestration of CO2: utilization of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in the North Sea oil fields 500-100 km away from the emission points, and aquifer storage close to the individual emission point The storage site comprises a 4-way domal structure with an estimated storage capacity of more than 1 Giga tons of CO2 It is situated close to the largest CO2 point source in Denmark The analyzed sequestration system alone could account for up to half of the reduction required for Denmark to fulfill the Kyoto Protocol

7 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a set of definitions and methodologies for the assessment of CO2 storage capacity in geological media is presented, including coal beds and deep saline aquifers, and the level of detail and resolution required in the data make reliable and accurate estimation of the storage capacity of these media practical only at the local and site-specific scales.

824 citations

BookDOI
01 Oct 2012
TL;DR: The Global Energy Assessment (GEA) as mentioned in this paper brings together over 300 international researchers to provide an independent, scientifically based, integrated and policy-relevant analysis of current and emerging energy issues and options.
Abstract: The Global Energy Assessment (GEA) brings together over 300 international researchers to provide an independent, scientifically based, integrated and policy-relevant analysis of current and emerging energy issues and options. It has been peer-reviewed anonymously by an additional 200 international experts. The GEA assesses the major global challenges for sustainable development and their linkages to energy; the technologies and resources available for providing energy services; future energy systems that address the major challenges; and the policies and other measures that are needed to realize transformational change toward sustainable energy futures. The GEA goes beyond existing studies on energy issues by presenting a comprehensive and integrated analysis of energy chalenges, opportunities and strategies, for developing, industrialized and emerging economies. This volume is a invaluable resource for energy specialists and technologists in all sectors (academia, industry and government) as well as policymakers, development economists and practitioners in international organizations and national governments.

812 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a comprehensive review of negative emissions technologies (NETs) is presented, focusing on seven technologies: bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), afforestation and reforestation, enhanced weathering, ocean fertilisation, biochar, and soil carbon sequestration.
Abstract: The most recent IPCC assessment has shown an important role for negative emissions technologies (NETs) in limiting global warming to 2 °C cost-effectively. However, a bottom-up, systematic, reproducible, and transparent literature assessment of the different options to remove CO2 from the atmosphere is currently missing. In part 1 of this three-part review on NETs, we assemble a comprehensive set of the relevant literature so far published, focusing on seven technologies: bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), afforestation and reforestation, direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS), enhanced weathering, ocean fertilisation, biochar, and soil carbon sequestration. In this part, part 2 of the review, we present estimates of costs, potentials, and side-effects for these technologies, and qualify them with the authors' assessment. Part 3 reviews the innovation and scaling challenges that must be addressed to realise NETs deployment as a viable climate mitigation strategy. Based on a systematic review of the literature, our best estimates for sustainable global NET potentials in 2050 are 0.5–3.6 GtCO₂ yr⁻¹ for afforestation and reforestation, 0.5–5 GtCO₂ yr⁻¹ for BECCS, 0.5–2 GtCO₂ yr⁻¹ for biochar, 2–4 GtCO₂ yr⁻¹ for enhanced weathering, 0.5–5 GtCO₂ yr⁻¹ for DACCS, and up to 5 GtCO2 yr⁻¹ for soil carbon sequestration. Costs vary widely across the technologies, as do their permanency and cumulative potentials beyond 2050. It is unlikely that a single NET will be able to sustainably meet the rates of carbon uptake described in integrated assessment pathways consistent with 1.5 °C of global warming.

772 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Oct 2008-Elements
TL;DR: Carbon dioxide capture and sequestration (CCS) in deep geological formations has recently emerged as an important option for reducing greenhouse emissions as discussed by the authors, and if CCS is implemented on the scale needed to make noticeable reductions in atmospheric CO2, a billion metric tons or more must be sequestered annually, a 250 fold increase over the amount sequestered today.
Abstract: Carbon dioxide capture and sequestration (CCS) in deep geological formations has recently emerged as an important option for reducing greenhouse emissions. If CCS is implemented on the scale needed to make noticeable reductions in atmospheric CO2, a billion metric tons or more must be sequestered annually—a 250 fold increase over the amount sequestered today. Securing such a large volume will require a solid scientific foundation defining the coupled hydrologic-geochemical-geomechanical processes that govern the long-term fate of CO2 in the subsurface. Also needed are methods to characterize and select sequestration sites, subsurface engineering to optimize performance and cost, approaches to ensure safe operation, monitoring technology, remediation methods, regulatory overview, and an institutional approach for managing long-term liability.

730 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the state of the art in photocatalytic CO2 reduction over titanium oxide (TiO2) nanostructured materials, with emphasis on material design and reactor configurations, is presented.
Abstract: The continuous combustion of non-renewable fossil fuels and depletion of existing resources is intensifying the research and development of alternative future energy options that can directly abate and process ever-increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Since CO2 is a thermodynamically stable compound, its reduction must not consume additional energy or increase net CO2 emissions. Renewable sources like solar energy provide readily available and continuous light supply required for driving this conversion process. Therefore, the use of solar energy to drive CO2 photocatalytic reactions simultaneously addresses the aforementioned challenges, while producing sustainable fuels or chemicals suitable for use in existing energy infrastructure. Recent progress in this area has focused on the development and testing of promising TiO2 based photocatalysts in different reactor configurations due to their unique physicochemical properties for CO2 photoreduction. TiO2 nanostructured materials with different morphological and textural properties modified by using organic and inorganic compounds as photosensitizers (dye sensitization), coupling semiconductors of different energy levels or doping with metals or non-metals have been tested. This review presents contemporary views on state of the art in photocatalytic CO2 reduction over titanium oxide (TiO2) nanostructured materials, with emphasis on material design and reactor configurations. In this review, we discuss existing and recent TiO2 based supports, encompassing comparative analysis of existing systems, novel designs being employed to improve selectivity and photoconversion rates as well as emerging opportunities for future development, crucial to the field of CO2 photocatalytic reduction. The influence of different operating and morphological variables on the selectivity and efficiency of CO2 photoreduction is reviewed. Finally, perspectives on the progress of TiO2 induced photocatalysis for CO2 photoreduction will be presented.

714 citations