The challenge of the GECO project is to advance in the provision of cleaner and cost-effective non-carbon and Sulphur emitting geothermal energy across Europe and the World. The enhanced CO2 mineral sequestration in ultramafic rocks – as serpentinites – represents a promising technology that allows trapping CO2 emissions from geothermal power plants – permanently and safely – and utilizing the products of the reaction as industrial or commercial material. This technology is based on the chemical reaction of CO2 and silicate minerals and oxides rich in Mg and Ca (mainly present in mafic and ultramafic rocks) to form stable carbonates (magnesite, calcite and dolomite) following the reactions: MSiO3 + CO2 = MCO3 + SiO2 + heat, where M: divalent cation as Mg, Ca, Fe, etc. Alternatively, the reaction could be applied to oxide as brucite, a mineral that easily dissolves in water at low temperatures.
This webinar is aimed at introducing the CO2 mineral sequestration in ultramafic rocks and the importance of the in-depth studies of the natural analogues. The second part of the webinar will be dedicated to presenting the results of the IGG-CNR team during the GECO project. IGG-CNR team performed a geological field study in the Southern Tuscan ophiolites, followed by a petrological and geochemical characterization of the rocks, lab experiments and geochemical modelling. The final results were aimed to identify the potentiality of this application in the Tuscan Region or in a similar serpentinite-rich geological setting.
Program:
Session 1: Carbon Storage in Ultramafic Rocks
- Introduction to CO2 storage through mineral carbonation
- Introduction to CO2 storage in ultramafic rocks and the study of natural analogues
- Q&A session
Session 2: Natural analogues of CO2 storage in ultramafic rocks: Results from the GECO Project
- Carbonation in the Tuscan serpentinites
- Future application and potentiality of CO2 storage in the ultramafic rocks of Tuscany
- Q&A session
Speakers:
Chiara Boschi, Institute of Geoscience and Earth Resources – CNR, Italy
Andrea Rielli, Institute of Geoscience and Earth Resources – CNR, Italy
Eugenio Trumpy, Institute of Geoscience and Earth Resources – CNR, Italy
Moderator: Amel Barich, Geothermal Research Cluster, Iceland
Date: 25 March 2022
Time: 13:00 – 14:30 UTC
Platform: Teams
Registration: To register, please complete this online form.
