The Wasted Energy in Greenhouse Gases

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=waste-co2-could-be-source-of-extra-power

I’d never thought about the chemical energy that remains in the products after a chemical reaction, but, according to this article, Dutch scientists have figured out a way to convert the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere at power plants into more usable energy. I found the idea that greenhouse gases could be recycled intriguing and quite surprising. According to the article, the scientists used electrolysis to harness the energy present in carbon dioxide gas. Mixing carbon dioxide and water produces carbonic acid, which increases the pH of the solution. The ions that are produced create an electric current. The experiment estimated that if all carbon dioxide emissions underwent electrolysis, we could produce 1,750 terawatt hours of electricity every year without doing any further damage to the environment. Although it will take time and a lot of money to transform this idea from a lab experiment into a reality, I hope we will attempt to find a productive use for the potentially harmful chemicals our society produces. Although harnessing the energy in greenhouse gases won’t eliminate the excess gases themselves, it would help us use our resources more sustainably, and I think it would be the first step toward a future independent of fossil fuels.

Submitted by Amanda Jack