Proven technologies to curb carbon emissions revealed

A recent article from Sunday Times stated that green technologies could potentially lessen carbon gas emissions, and that different nations and organizations have diverse ways to combat climate change.

Spain leads the way with its PS10 solar tower in Seville that produces electricity using over 600 huge movable mirrors called heliostats. The country’s biggest solar power plant, to be operational in 2011, is now under construction in Cadiz.

Carbon capture and storage technology – the process of capturing and disposing carbon in disused oil wells and aquifers – has been practiced in North Sea by Statoil since 1996. The EU has pledged approximately 12 pilot schemes attached to coal-fired power plants by 2020.

In Italy, some 85 per cent of the households use smart meters to manage electricity and to cut wastage.

Meanwhile, the UK is now the world leader in the installation of offshore wind energy. The UK government’s Climate Change Committee forecasted that wind farms could supply 30 per cent of the UK’s energy demand by 2020. Recently, the first floating wind turbines were installed 10kms off the coast of Norway.

Fifty-three nuclear reactors are now under construction in 13 countries as well, including China, India, Russia and South Korea.

By 2030, many of the vehicles will be powered by mains electricity or fuel cells running on hydrogen generated by nuclear or renewable energy. Personal Rapid Transit, now being tested at Heathrow’s Terminal 5, will eventually enable driverless city trains.

Other technologies  mentioned in the Sunday Times article that could help reduce emissions include solar panels, wave panels, eco aircraft, tidal panels, reversible heat pumps, second generation biofuels and LED bulbs.