Alberta Industrial Synergy: CO2 Programs Initiative
Authors: Yildirim E. 
Published: March 2010

Introduction

Alberta's economy is " hydrocarbon-based. Production, processing and consumption of hydrocarbons produce carbon dioxide (CO2) as a by-product. Coal plays a major role in Alberta's economy, since a significant portion (90%) of Alberta's electric power is generated by the coal-fired power plants. In addition, the province of Alberta is a home for a diverse list of industrial sectors such as ammonia and fertilizers, petrochemicals, bitumen/heavy oil upgraders and refineries.

A variety of industrial sectors operating in Alberta produce large quantities of CO2. Although the concentration of CO2 in coproduct streams varies from plant to plant, a majority of large scale plants within these sectors could become a reliable pointsource of CO2 supply. This availability of large volumes and, in many cases, high concentrations of CO2 presents opportunities for its agricultural and industrial utilization.

At present the CO2 produced by most industrial systems, including transportation, is released to the atmosphere, thus contributing to the controversy about its role in the greenhouse effect. In our opinion this controversy may be minimized, and resources consumed in the CO2 debate may be better utilized by re-directing them to well-defined research and technology programs. Increased utilization of mass-produced CO2 from industrial point-sources through the use of technical and technological innovations could convert this by-product from an operational " nuisance cost" to a value-added commodity. This approach not only could reduce the industries' CO2 contribution to the atmosphere, but it could also create new businesses thus generating jobs and wealth with a higher allocation of funds to the ecological and environmental causes.

Finally, it should be pointed out that there may be a significant industrial synergy between the producing industries and potential users of CO2. Alberta's economy is driven by strong resource based and export-oriented industries. In addition to energy and petro-chemicals, forestry and agriculture/food industries make up more than one-third of the province's " goods" production.

Industrial use of CO2 in methanol and urea production, enhanced oil recovery, refrigeration and beverage carbonation are well known. However, the CO2 utilized in most of these applications is specially produced for that purpose and is not necessarily captured from flue gases or from other by-product streams. Therefore, in a futuristic vision it is not unreasonable to expect:the increased uses of CO2 in currently known applications;the new uses of CO2; andthe capture and utilization from industrial point-sources.

However, this vision of the Alberta Industrial Synergy projects the greatest growth opportunity in CO2 utilization with the forestry and agricultural industries.

Most of Alberta's mass produced CO2 sources are either surrounded by agricultural or new growth forest lands or they are located in close proximities to enable pipeline transportation of CO2 to such producing lands. Further research in biological fixation will be needed to support accelerated CO2 capture by trees and agricultural plants. This new research could generate the necessary knowledge for supplying the right levels of CO2 to the forest lands, agricultural lands and to the greenhouses for accelerating the production of food, fuel or fiber.