CO2 is entering into atmosphere and also sinking to the available sinks like oceans and soil. It is needed to displace oxygen from C of CO2 by Hydrogen to produce simple hydrocarbon like methane. This will help for cleaning environment/ atmosphere and also help to produce hydrocarbons.
Yes one can reduce CO2 into CH4. But the energy required to perform this step which is highly endothermic is enormous.
UNLESS one can provide this energy with non-carbon based energy sources, the reduction of CO2 with H2,... is a useless energy consuming step to solve the Climate Change impacts we are experiencing as I speak.
I hear you thinking! Let's do this with nuclear power! Unfortunately this option will cost humanity a lot of financial resources to build enough reactors to provide enough energy.
Moreover there is the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation! There is the risk of nuclear power stations going in a meltdown, so that the Pacific is polluted with Plutonium and the like Fukushima's!
AND mind nuclear waste (storage) as well. It will cost next generations tonnes of Euro's or Dollars to keep it out of their environment! Yes one can make mixed nuclear fuel, that's why in the Irish Sea fish have three eyes instead of two and why Sellafield changed its name!
Just to give you an idea of how endothermic the reduction of CO2 with H2 is: at 380°C in ATP conditions and a Ni catalyst the conversion to CH4 is more than 99%. That's a lot of energy indeed!
AND you will need H2 as well. You'll need lots of energy (again) to split water into 2xH2 and O2. Only plants do this for free with solar energy! Again only when you have enough non-C energy available can one perform it like plants do!
AND what has humanity done till now, cutting tropical, temperate and boreal forests!!!
Not so simple is it?
Cheers,
Frank
Thanks for a detailed answer and your explanation about the limitations and liabilities.
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