Scientists have proposed storing carbon-dioxide in huge underground reservoirs as a way of reducing emissions and slowing climate change.
Researchers from the University of Leicester and the British Geological Survey (BGS) said this would also provide alternative means for desalination of water, which could have major implications for the production patterns of key horticultural crops.
Suitable sites in western Europe have already been identified.
The research, published in the journal, Planet Earth, reveals that carbon dioxide can be contained in cool geological aquifers, or reservoirs, where it can remain harmlessly for many thousands of years.
PhD research student Ameena Camps is working with Professor Mike Lovell at the university’s department of geology and with Chris Rochelle at BGS, to investigate the storage of CO2.
Storing the gas in a solid form as a gas hydrate, or as a pool of liquid CO2 below a cap of hydrate cemented sediments, is believed to offer an alternative method of geological sequestration to the current practices of storage in warm, deep sediments in the North Sea.
“Storing carbon-dioxide in this way has an impact on climate change as CO2 that is released can be captured and stored and therefore slow climate change,” said Camps. “The hydrate can also be used to desalinate water as it excludes salt as it forms so it could increase global water supplies. This could have implications for the production of a range of crops including fruit and vegetables.”
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