Iceland develops geothermal power plants

Iceland, a major renewable energy country, has developed a mineralized storage technology for carbon dioxide emissions through the Hellisheiði geothermal power plant
.

According to reports, the carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide emitted by the power station are mixed with water and injected into underground basalt formations, and in just a few months, they become carbonate minerals
.

Scientists initially thought that the natural mineralization of carbon dioxide, from hundreds to thousands of years, could be achieved
in the short term through this project.

The project involves Reykjavik Energy, which operates the power station, and scientists from Columbia University, the University of Copenhagen, and the University of Iceland, and will conduct experiments on toxic hydrogen sulfide emissions in addition to carbon dioxide
.

The Hellisheiði geothermal power station uses hot water deep underground to turbine operation, working with another power station to provide the electricity needs
of the capital Reykjavik.

The Hellisheiði power plant emits 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year, while coal-fired power plants of this scale emit only 5%.

In the future, power generation is expected to increase, and there are concerns about increasing CO2 emissions
.

The research team only stored carbon dioxide underground
.
In 2012-2013, a pilot project was implemented in which 250 tonnes of a mixture of carbon dioxide, water and hydrogen sulfide would be pumped over a basalt layer 400-800 metres deep to observe the situation
.
The results show that most carbonate minerals are altered over a few months, with 95% mineralized
within two years.

According to hydrologists at Columbia University's Lamont Earth Institute, Martin-Stewart, co-author of the research paper, said
so in a press release.
"With this experiment, large amounts of carbon dioxide are injected into the ground and stored
in a very safe way.
In areas with many basalt rocks, there are many power stations around the world, and the same method
will be used in the future through these equipment.
”

Because near the Hellisheiði power station, basalt and water moisture, $30 per ton of carbon dioxide, can be mineralized
by low cost.
The results of the project can be seen after 2014, when about 5,000 tons of carbon dioxide have been injected into the ground
.
On the other hand, it also costs a lot to inject into the ground in power stations with high CO2 emissions, and overall, it costs $130 per ton of carbon dioxide
.

The research team said that seawater use will be possible
when there are many ways to reduce costs.
In 2010, carbon dioxide-injected basalt formations were discovered along the coast of the United States, and the use of this technology has attracted much attention
.