How would you feel if those fossil fuel producers stopped extracting fossil methane and instead were producing methane from atmospheric CO2 and fossil free energy?
Comment on Capturing CO2 With Copper, Scientists Generate 'Green Methane'
RvTV95XBeo@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
This is great in theory, but all it really does is give us a reason to cling onto a dirty, leaky natural gas grid. Much like CCS, this technology allows fossil fuel producers to continue business as usual under the promise of one day maybe sortof going green, and if this system leaks much more than ~1%, its not actually “carbon neutral” in useful human timescales, because its converting CO2 into something 50-100x more impactful on the climate
Dogyote@slrpnk.net 2 months ago
ericjmorey@lemmy.world 2 months ago
If it can be made cheaper than extracted via drilling (fracking) wells, then it’s a pure win because it will displace the activity that increases CO2 and the vast majority of Methane leaks while the transition to other technologies occurs. It would be a tremendous benefit in terms of reducing greenhouse effects.
RvTV95XBeo@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
That “if” is doing a lot lot of heavy lifting, and exactly the excuse a lot of fossil fuel companies and municipalities will use for inaction.
ericjmorey@lemmy.world 2 months ago
If it can’t be cost effective it won’t happen. It won’t slow down solar or other green house gas emission neutral options. I’m not rooting for that scenario.
RvTV95XBeo@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
That’s the thing, it doesn’t have to happen. It has to catch enough headlines that Shell can say:
“As part of our environmental commitments we plan to sell only carbon neutral methane by 2040”
Then they proceed to do nothing in the “hopes” that this becomes cost effective in time, while continuing to invest in natural gas infrastructure, and while we continue to investing in using their “soon to be neutral” fuel.
Finally, when 2035 or so rolls around they quietly shift the goal posts and we keep on letting them pollute.
And if you’re wondering why this sounds familiar…
carbonbrief.org/shell-abandons-2035-emissions-tar…
All getting hyped about CCS or “renewable” “drop-in replacements” for fossil fuels does is further entrench fossil fuel companies as the “center” of our carbon commitments, while they are 100% disincentivized to act.
Unless this tech is paired with a $1000/tonne carbon tax, its a scapegoat.