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Carbon capture and storage from coal is completely impractical, for reasons that were clearly set out in a letter by Owen Jordan of West Glamorgan to New Scientist in 2008 (yep, ten years ago). He pointed out that emissions of methane, CO and CO2 from opencast workings begin as soon as overburden above the coal seams is stripped away. These gases alone account for about twice the emissions of the burning of the mined coal. Moreover, shale and mudstone that are dug out along with the coal have a high carbon content, but are not burnable because of the high ash content. This carbon also oxidises if exposed to air, emitting another three or four times the emissions of the mined coal.
We cannot continue to give any more thought to this dangerous and expensive blind alley, or to the apologists for coal.
Dr Dave Bull CEnvP-SC CChem - Wellington, New Zealand