Non-renewable sources
The traditional use of hydrocarbons, such as oil, coal and gas, will continue for decades, but a growing share of the market will be taken up by these newer options.
Meanwhile we are developing new alternative technology to take the carbon dioxide out of fuels like coal and gas and storing it safely underground.
Power stations fired by natural gas will be a major part of the future’s lower-carbon economy because natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel available.
When used in power generation, gas-fired power typically produces 50 percent less carbon dioxide than conventional coal-fired plants.
Gas fired power plants run with the help of gas turbines, which are similar to airplane engines. Compressed air is forced into combustion chambers, where it mixes with natural gas fuel. The mixture is then burned, making combustion gas. This hot gas expands through the turbine, and its heat energy drives a generator, producing cleaner electricity. Plant fitted with co-generation technology has an added benefit as some of the steam can be used to supply nearby industry. Supplying heat and power together like this is highly energy-efficient, cutting overall fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.
BP Alternative Energy has stakes in gas-fired power projects around the world, including the US, Vietnam, Spain, South Korea and the UK.
BP Alternative Energy has stakes in gas-fired power projects around the world, including the US, Vietnam, Spain, South Korea and the UK.
Hydrogen power is a new and exciting concept in energy – one that could revolutionise the world of low-carbon electricity generation. This new generation of power stations will use a fossil fuel feedstock such as coal, petroleum coke or natural gas, taking out some 90% of the carbon in the fuel, storing it deep underground as carbon dioxide (CO2) and using the hydrogen to generate low-carbon power for the grid
One such project is our joint venture project with Masdar in Abu Dhabi, where early stage engineering design work is underway. Here, a 400MW natural-gas based hydrogen power plant could produce low-carbon electricity and capture up to 1.7 million tonnes of CO2 each year.
One such project is our joint venture project with Masdar in Abu Dhabi, where early stage engineering design work is underway. Here, a 400MW natural-gas based hydrogen power plant could produce low-carbon electricity and capture up to 1.7 million tonnes of CO2 each year.
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What happens to the leftover carbon? Instead of being released into the atmosphere, it will be captured and stored securely deep underground in deleting oil and gas fields or natural saline formation. As the carbon dioxide is injected into place, it can also help force additional oil or gas out of the reservoirs.
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