SOME ASPECTS OF APPLICATION OF CO_2 CAPTURE AND STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES FOR CO_2 EMISSION REDUCTION IN THE RUSSIAN ELECTRIC POWER PRODUCTION SECTOR

摘要

The paper aims to consider the implications of CO_2 capture and sequestration (CCS) technology for reducing CO_2 emission from fossil-fired power plants in Russia. Over the period 1990-2003, total GHG emissions and CO_2 emissions significantly decreased due to a drop in a final energy consumption, industry and agricultural production as a result of economic recession in Russia. Projections of CO_2 emissions prepared for the various scenarios of a pace of Russia's economic recovery show that under reasonable assumptions for GDP growth and structure, changes in industrial mix, price movement for the main energy resources, etc., the level of 1990 will not be exceeded until 2015. In general, it is projected that the CO_2 emissions will grow, the rate of growth will depend on the timing and speed of economy recovery. Thus, whereas CO_2 emissions in 2010-2015 will be most likely lower than their 1990 level, it appears that problems with stabilisation of emissions will occur after economic recovery. Would CCS technology be a real option for reduction of CO_2 emission in Russia? The paper considers what could be the potential problems with an implementation of CCS technologies for large reductions in power-related CO_2 emissions. In Russia, there is an abundant supply of geological formations, which theoretically could be used for CO_2 sequestration. Over 40 % of the world's discovered natural gas resources, near 12 % of the oil resources and about 16 % of proved coal resources are located in the territory of the Russian Federation. Since depleted oil and natural gas fields and unminable coal beds are considered as possible sites for CO_2 storage, there is potentially a vast storage capacity in geological reservoirs for anthropogenic CO_2 sequestration. The majority of national deposits of fuel resources are concentrated in West Siberia where bleak climate, rough terrain, and huge distance for transportation hinder exploitation of natural resources. These will also pose formidable obstacles for deployment of CCS technologies. The bulk of the CO_2 emissions are from fuel combustion with more than 30 % originating in the power industry. The paper discusses some characteristic features of Russian fuel and energy complex, distribution of energy resources and generating capacities from the point of view of possible utilisation of CCS technologies. Effective and successful implementation of CCS technologies will be possible only with taking into account economical, geographical, regional, etc. details of the considered region.