Academia Sinica yesterday unveiled recommendations for the government to reach net zero emissions by 2050, an effort that requires new and yet-to-be developed technologies, social and economic measures, and changes to the demand and supply of energy generation and consumption.
The main concern in developing carbon-free technology is how effectively it can be established in Taiwan, in light of its development pace and scale, as well as the diversity, locality and dispersion of energy sources, the nation’s top research institute said.
At present, more than 90 percent of carbon emissions come from the power sector, with more than 48 percent coming from electricity generation, it said.
Photo: Hsu Tzu-ling, Taipei Times
Producing carbon neutral electricity using new technologies should therefore be the nation’s top priority, aside from encouraging conservation and boosting energy efficiency and supply diversification, the institute said.
Part of the effort should focus on decarbonizing hydrogen electricity, a technique that removes carbon from natural gas before combustion, the institute said, adding that this technology offers a new net zero power option, compared with traditional methods of carbon dioxide capture, use and storage.
As using natural gas to generate power with low-carbon emissions is also desirable, technology for decarbonizing natural gas would be beneficial, it said.
This technology produces solid carbon, which is easier to use and store, it said.
The recovered carbon could be used in industrial and building materials, and as a backup energy source during emergencies, it added.
Deep geothermal systems could also be developed as Taiwan is located in the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and has abundant sources of geothermal energy — a stable, sustainable resource for electrical power generation, Academia Sinica said.
This undertaking would focus on developing subsurface geological mapping, as well as drilling and extraction techniques, to provide information essential for building geothermal power plants, the institute said.
Geothermal energy could generate a significant amount of electricity, if policymakers can clear legal obstacles, such as regulations for geothermal use and feedback power networks, it said.
As for solar energy, Taiwan does not have enough space for a large number of solar panels due to its small size and dense population, the institute said.
Power conversion efficiency would have to be improved and next-generation high-efficiency photovoltaic modules would need to be developed using new technology to capture more solar energy, the institute said.
However, production costs and the effectiveness of such a project would pose a challenge, it added.
Taiwan should consider developing marine energy using ocean currents and thermal sources, the institute said.
The nation could also increase the use of carbon sinks and bioenergy, it said, adding that crop species with high carbon capturing efficiency should be selected and cultivated through molecular breeding and then grown on unused farms.
The biomass produced would be transformed into biochar that could be stored underground as a carbon sink, it said.
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