[tt] Nanotech offers hope for climate change

[Hughes, James J.]

* Defra Report: Environmentally Beneficial Nanotechnologies: Barriers
and Opportunities (PDF)
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/nanotech/policy/pdf/envbeneficial-re
port.pdf


http://www.infomaticsonline.co.uk/vnunet/news/2190219/nanotech-offers-ho
pe-climate

Nanotech offers hope for climate change

Technology could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent

Ian Williams, vnunet.com 
18 May 2007

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has
released the results of a study exploring some of the ways in which
nanotechnology could be used to help combat climate change. 

The study investigated the opportunities and potential obstacles to the
adoption of a number of environmentally beneficial nanotechnologies.

Five applications were subjected to detailed investigation: 'fuel
additives', 'photovoltaics' (solar cells), 'the hydrogen economy',
'electricity storage' and 'insulation'.

The report suggests that nanotechnology could contribute to reducing
greenhouse gas emissions by up to two per cent in the near term, and up
to 20 per cent by 2050 with similar reductions in air pollution.

"It is hard to conceive of a greater challenge than combating climate
change, " Howard Dalton, chief scientific adviser at Defra, told a
meeting of The Royal Society.

"Today's report indicates the key areas where nanoscience may help
lessen its effects, and contribute to achieving society's ambitions for
a sustainable future.

"However, the report draws particular attention to the need for
government, industry and scientific communities to work together in
answering some of the fundamental questions regarding the behaviour and
toxicity of nanomaterials."

Defra minister Lord Rooker added: "The report gives a useful account of
the current state of innovation in this important area.

"Government is considering the report's recommendations for further
research and action to foster progress and bring about the adoption of
some exciting new technologies."

According to the study, nanotechnology could help significantly reduce
carbon emissions in the following areas:

Fuel Additives: Nanoparticle additives have been shown to increase the
fuel efficiency of diesel engines by approximately five per cent which
could result in a saving of two to three million tonnes of CO2 in the
UK.

Solar Cells: Nanotechnology may deliver benefits in significantly
decreasing the cost of solar cell production. If a distributed solar
generation grid met one per cent of the electricity demand,
approximately 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 per annum could be saved.

The Hydrogen Economy: If hydrogen is generated via renewable means, or
using carbon capture and storage, all CO2 emissions from transport could
be eliminated saving 132 million tonnes of emissions each year.

Batteries and Super-capacitors: Nanotechnology could allow electric
vehicles to be recharged in under 10 minutes, comparable to the
refuelling time of current cars. If low carbon electricity generation
techniques are used, CO2 from private transport could be eliminated or,
using the current energy mix, could save 42 million tonnes of carbon
dioxide.

Insulation: Cavity and loft insulation are cheap and effective, but
there are no easy methods for insulating solid walled buildings, which
currently make up approximately one third of the UK's housing stock.
Nanotechnology may provide a solution which, if an effective insulation
could be found with similar properties to standard cavity insulation,
could result in emission reductions equivalent to three million tonnes
per year.

Dr Steffi Friedrichs, director of the Nanotechnology Industries
Association, said: "Defra's report gives an excellent overview of the
wide-ranging advances that can be achieved through the control and
manipulation of matter on the nanometre scale in order to help solve one
of mankind's biggest threats: climate change. 

"Crucial to these advancements having an impact on climate change will
be improving the public's understanding of nanotechnology's benefits,
particularly with regards to health and safety issues, ensuring that the
commercialisation process is not unnecessarily delayed."

The research is timely following today's report in Science magazine that
the southern oceans are absorbing less CO2 than before, which is
predicted to accelerate some of the effects of climate change.