Harnessing the Flow of CO2
Global climate change is typically discussed with a doom-and-gloom sentiment. Carbon dioxide concentration is higher than it ever has been.
“Limiting the carbon dioxide levels to near current levels would be a major miracle, and would require a herculean effort,” said Larry Smarr, Director at Calit2.
Mark Anderson, founder and CEO of the Future in Review conference emphasized the need for action. Anderson is leading a consortium to develop real solutions for global climate change.
“There has to be a multi-phased response, followed by a final solution that will be implemented within 20-30 years,” said Mark Anderson, founder and CEO of the Future in Review conference. “Once we find the interim solution, then we need to figure out how to make it, and after that, how to market it. With such a new product, we’ll have to create an entirely new market.”
Carbon is a building material with applications throughout our natural environment. The challenge is how to reduce carbon dioxide into a material we can use. Graphene, a reduced form of carbon with a high degree of structural integrity, is a likely material.
“It’s scalable, economical, and recyclable,” said Jon Myers, founder of Graphene Technologies & NovaMetallix.
Ray Gibbs, CEO at Haydale Plc, expounded on current applications of graphene, including uses in vehicles as well as products manufactured by large companies such as Huntsman Chemical.
“There is no simple answer,” added Soroush Nazarpour, President and CEO at NanoXplore.
Applications of graphene and other low carbon emission products must be analyzed on an case-by-case basis across industries. Nazarpour also stated that the economics are such that there is plenty of money to be made for businesses considering applications of graphene in their products.
The panel agreed that despite solutions being identified, there will not be an impact unless we can get buy-in from the world economy, and specifically China.
“The bulk of carbon emissions are generated in China,” said Smarr. “If we are to be successful, we need to look beyond the Wasatch front. We need to look throughout the world.”
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