No abstract

As análises científicas e discussões quanto ao efeito das emissões antrópicas de Gases de Efeito Estufa (GEE) e suas consequências nas alterações do clima ganharam notoriedade pública nas últimas décadas. A necessidade de ações mundiais direcionadas ao combate do aquecimento global, decorrente das emissões antrópicas de GEE, tem movimentado tanto o setor público quanto o setor privado. A relação meio ambiente e economia foi um assunto discutido desde a primeira Conferência das Nações Unidas sobre o Meio Humano, realizada em Estocolmo, em 1972. Devido à relação produção/consumo/meio ambiente, o setor privado é um dos maiores interessados nas questões referentes à Governança Ambiental Global (GAG). Quanto às mudanças climáticas, embora as evidências científicas aumentem, as respostas políticas têm tido, até agora, pouco ou nenhum impacto sobre a acumulação de emissões. A tecnologia de Captura e Armazenamento do Dióxido de Carbono (CO 2) em Reservatórios Geológicos (CCS) é apontada, a curto e médio prazo, como uma das principais ações de mitigação de GEE. Para o incentivo do seu uso em larga escala, estão disponíveis recursos internacionais e outros oriundos do mercado de crédito de carbono voluntário. Outro mecanismo de incentivo para o seu uso é o mercado de crédito de carbono regulado, entretanto, o CCS ainda não teve nenhuma metodologia de Mecanismos de Desenvolvimento Limpo (MDL) aprovada. O mundo já conta com diversas instituições desenvolvendo pesquisas na busca do domínio desta tecnologia. O objetivo principal deste artigo é apresentar um panorama mundial da tecnologia de armazenamento geológico do CO 2 analisando a situação dessa tecnologia no Brasil. A metodologia deste artigo é composta da pesquisa exploratória, descritivo-analítica sobre o tema que privilegia estratégias e técnicas de pesquisa qualitativa e quantitativa. Para a coleta e análise dos dados secundários, foram utilizados recursos tradicionais de pesquisa. Inicialmente, foi revisada a literatura sobre a tecnologia CCS. Complementarmente, foi realizada análise de documentos institucionais, como relatórios, estudos e projetos. Os dados primários foram coletados através de consultas a especialistas. Como resultados, o artigo apresenta o posicionamento de diversos países quanto a inserção do CCS no âmbito do MDL, mais especificamente a posição do Brasil, a situação atual da estrutura de pesquisa na tecnologia CCS no Brasil, os principais motivos para investir nesta tecnologia no Brasil e por fim a identificação das lacunas existentes para o estabelecimento de um ambiente mais favorável ao domínio da tecnologia. Conclui-se que o Governo do Brasil tem estado ausente nas ações estruturantes relativas ao CCS, deixando a cargo do setor privado conduzir o desenvolvimento e domínio da tecnologia CCS.

The incorporation of renewable energy into the future world energy matrix challenges its efficient use because renewable energy is not always available due to its dependence on natural factors such as wind and sunlight. This work develops a new resource management system to evaluate the renewable energy resources stored in salt caves using power-to-gas (P2G) and compressed air energy storage (CAES) technologies in the initial phase of a project (sub-commercial phase). To fulfill this objective, bibliographical research, document analysis, and consultations with specialists were used as the methodological basis. Two systems were identified to be used as a reference for the proposed methodology: Petroleum Resources Management System (PRMS) and CO2 Storage Resources Management System (SRMS). A classification framework is proposed for energy storage and an application of the framework is presented for a case study in Portugal. Similar to these reference systems, a sub-commercial project momentum was established, and three stages called total potential resource (R3), total probable resource (R2), and total proved resource (R1) were defined. The results support corporate and governmental decision-making on project continuity for both the market and governments, thus demonstrating their importance in new global energy reality. It is recommended to define the sub-commercial stage as well as the mapping of R2 in the Brazilian territory as was done recently in Europe.

Thermal Pollution represents “the release into the environment of substances that are innocuous themselves but at a temperature higher than the ambient altering the physical characteristics of the air or water with which they mix” (Science Dictionary). The quantity of the heated air dumped in the atmosphere is intrinsically related to efficiency of industrial systems, processes and industries. Increasing efficiencies of industrial systems, processes and industries will directly reduce the thermal pollution. In other words, all energy savings obtained by increasing energy efficiency of industrial systems and processes (IS&P) represents avoided Thermal Pollution. To date, studies of energetic performances of industrial systems and industries have lagged behind those used in the commercial and institutional sectors due to: Variability and complexity of IS&P, Variability of material and environmental conditions, The absence of a large population of comparable data required for a regression-based approach that would enable the normalization of material and environmental conditions, and thus allow for a useful comparison of energy performance at the process level. The reluctance of industrial firms to share data on industrial processes that is often considered proprietary. Paper proposes: an energetic assessment of Thermal Pollution by using a new rating system model describing the energy efficiency of any industrial equipment, system drive or process independent of a comparison with other processes. Comparative element across an industrial sector that is traditionally used, is replaced with a theoretical goal. The rating is then solely based on how close the true energy consumption within an industrial process gets to that ideal state. Proposed methodology splits energy consumption in 2 (two) specific components: Ideal energy (EIdeal) and Energy at Risk (E@R) – that represents actually the Thermal Pollution (Th.P). By considering these two energy types Benchmark Energy Factor (BEF) can be defined. The (BEF) will enable a new approach towards energy efficiency in the industrial sector and help level the playing field for energy management reducing the waste energy and therefore Thermal Pollution. It will be demonstrated that Energy at Risk (Thermal Pollution) variation is embedded in (BEF). Once Energy at Risk (E@R) is known, it will be logical proceeding with benchmarking plants, industrial systems or/and processes assessing their capability of managing E@R (waste energy or Th.P) by focusing on in-situ testing and making educated decision towards reducing wasted heat and thermal pollution. Case studies on proposed methodology are presented at the level of equipments, industrial system drives, plants, processes, and industries. The methodology of determining the magnitude of thermal pollution is applied to a typical national industrial system by using conservation potential obtainable when Integrated Industrial System Drives (IISD) are to be used. The scope of this paper is to uncover Th.P. as new pollutant that can be included in EPA Clean Air Act making available to consultants, designers, end-users, utility programs and environmental organizations reliable criteria of reducing thermal pollution of the existing or new industrial systems or plants as part of the climate change mitigation.

Carbon geological storage (CGS) projects are designed to securely store carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) for thousands of years. Because of this, there are several studies to evaluate the potential risks of long-term storage of CO 2 in geological formations. This paper presents a new method for the qualitative risk assessment of CGS: the risk assessment of stored CO 2 (RA-CO 2 ) method. It consists of the systematic and structured identification of CO 2 release risk scenarios arising from: seal, well, and fault and fracture zones. The uncertainties associated to each mapped risk scenario and the risks are qualitatively evaluated using the RA-CO 2 method. The characteristics of the RA-CO 2 method enable a comprehensive understanding of the underground evolution and future behaviour of the CO 2 in various time scales and their influence on safety. For future studies, the validation of the proposed RA-CO 2 method using a real case study is recommended.Keywords: risk assessment of stored CO 2 ; RA-CO 2 method; qualitative risk assessment; CO 2 leakage; CO 2 geological storage; CGS.Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Paraguassú, M.M., Câmara, G., Rocha, P.S. and Andrade, J.C.S. (2015) 'An approach to assess risks of carbon geological storage technology', Int.