Ancient rock formations could mitigate more than 3.8 billion tons of industrial emissions, study reveals | New Civil Engineer
A groundbreaking University of Edinburgh study has uncovered a natural solution to combat industrial emissions: ancient and volcanic rock formations across the UK. These formations could store and mitigate up to 3.8 billion tons of CO2 emissions, offering a sustainable and permanent solution to the climate crisis.
Published in the prestigious journal Earth Science, Systems and Society, the study highlights the potential of these formations to bind with CO2 through a process called mineralisation. The research assessed various locations, including Co Antrim in Northern Ireland, the Lake District in England, and the Isle of Skye in Scotland, which are rich in calcium and magnesium, essential elements for this process.
Here's how it works: captured CO2 emissions are dissolved in water and then injected into the underground volcanic rocks. The emissions then react with the rock's elements, forming a solid mineral. This mineralisation process converts the carbonated water into stone, effectively locking away the CO2 for the long term.
The study's findings are significant because they suggest that igneous rock formations offer a theoretical CO2 storage capacity of between 3.8 billion and 4.2 billion tons through mineralisation. This is a substantial amount, equivalent to nearly 45 years of UK industrial CO2 emissions.
The Antrim Lava Group in Northern Ireland has the largest potential storage capacity, ranging from 1.5 billion to 17.3 billion tons. The Borrowdale Volcanic Group in the Lake District follows with 8.6 billion tons, and the Skye Lava Group in Scotland has a capacity of 7 billion to 7.8 billion tons.
Angus Montgomery, the study's leader, emphasizes the practical and permanent nature of this solution, stating, "By identifying the UK's most reactive volcanic rocks and their CO2 storage potential, we've highlighted a viable and long-term strategy to mitigate unavoidable industrial emissions, complementing the UK's decarbonisation efforts."
Stuart Gilfillan, the University of Edinburgh's personal chairman of geochemistry, adds, "To significantly reduce CO2 emissions, we urgently need carbon storage solutions. CO2 mineralisation provides the UK with additional storage capacity, building upon the vast resources beneath the North Sea."
The next steps for the research team include detailed assessments of porosity and rock reactivity, which will determine the efficiency of CO2 mineralisation in these formations. This research could pave the way for a more sustainable future, where ancient rocks play a crucial role in mitigating the environmental impact of industrial activities.
