How ‘green’ are industrial carbon emissions?

AlphaGalileo.com
17 March 2010
University of Groningen

There are various kinds of CO2. Emissions of fossil CO2 that result from the burning of fossil fuel affect the environment. Biogenic CO2 resulting from the burning of wood or biofuels, however, is 'climate neutral'. Scientists at the University of Groningen have developed a method of accurately determining the ratio of these two types of CO2 in industrial emissions, using carbon-14 analysis. The method has proven to be so successful that the University will conduct a follow-up project, financed by RWE.

Because of ‘pay for your pollution’ policies, it is becoming increasingly important for industrial companies and power plants, as well as the government, to be able to determine how much fossil CO2 and how much biogenic CO2 is being emitted into the atmosphere. In accordance with European guidelines, CO2 emissions from fossil fuels must be paid for to an increasing extent. Emissions from biofuels, however, are exempt.

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