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Climate Protection by an Alternative Use of Methane—The Carbon Moratorium
Author(s) -
Kreysa Gerhard
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.200800232
Subject(s) - methane , environmental science , fossil fuel , carbon fibers , coal , energy source , cracking , alternative energy , carbon cycle , waste management , natural resource economics , chemistry , renewable energy , materials science , ecology , engineering , economics , organic chemistry , ecosystem , composite number , composite material , biology
Despite a rising output, in the last few decades the known reserves of fossil energy resources have steadily increased. Additionally, there are in all likelihood tremendous reserves of methane hydrate. In view of the climate change, new means must be explored for its use as an energy source. Starting with an assessment of various options for dealing with the carbon cycle and thermodynamic considerations of methane chemistry, a new approach for the use of methane as energy source is developed in this Concept. After thermal methane cracking, only the energy content of the hydrogen is used and the carbon is stored safely and retrievably in disused coal beds. Arguments for the viability of a carbon moratorium of this kind are discussed.