ASSESSMENT OF CO2 REMOVAL UTILIZING THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY LIMITATIONS

This paper deals with sustainable energy technologies under restrictio ns on resources and environmental impact. We have developed a database to estimate life-cycle efficiencies and greenhouse-gas emissions. Nex t, we define sustainability limitations on resource depletion and emis sions. Based on these concepts, the present world energy system is jud ged to be unsustainable. Mitigation measures such as disposal of CO2 a nd solar power generation are evaluated utilizing the concept. We show how sustainability influences the cost-effectiveness of measures take n. At the same time CO2 removal is shown to play a transitional but im portant role to realize sustainable energy scenario in ultra-long term . (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.