Country Review

SWITZERLAND

Switzerland comprises an area of 41,300 km2, whose location in the middle of Europe and of the European Union leads to substantial import, export and transit of goods/or services. At the end of 2002, the Swiss population was 7.31 million, of which 2/3 live in metropolitan areas. Fossil fuels make up 70% of the final energy consumption, whereas electricity accounts for 22% of it. The national electricity production is dominated by hydroelectric (56%) and nuclear (40%) power stations, whereas only 4% of electricity is produced using fossil fuels.

Switzerland ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1993 and ratified the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC in 2003. Switzerland has adopted new CO2 legislation, providing a framework for a climate change policy focusing on transparent targets that take into account the Swiss commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. The approach is based on voluntary agreements as well as economic instruments. In 2002, Switzerland released about 52 Mio t of CO2 equivalent, of which less than 1 Mio t from point sources. CO2 represents almost 80% of Switzerland’s greenhouse gas emissions, therefore the Swiss CO2 Law in 2000 calls for a reduction of energy-related CO2 emissions by 10% by 2010 with respect to 1990 figures. More specifically, the CO2 emissions from fossil fuels used in heating systems, industrial combustion units, etc. are to be reduced by 15%, and those arising from the use of fossil fuels in transportation by 8%. In 2002 the gap between the CO2 emissions and the Kyoto target was 6.3% (target for 2010: –8% with respect to 1990; 2002 status: –1.7 %). Due to the situation and in accordance with the CO2 Law, the Federal Council will introduce in 2005 a carbon tax, in a form that will be decided by the Government.

Research Programs

Sequestration of carbon dioxide by mineral carbonation: This project deals with a newly proposed technology for carbon dioxide sequestration, namely the reaction in an industrial setting of carbon dioxide with widely available magnesium or calcium silicates, e.g. olivine and serpentine, to form the corresponding carbonates and silica. Since both products are stable solids, widely available in natural rocks, this technique raises neither environmental concerns, nor safety problems, nor legacy issues. This project aims at studying mineral carbonation in a comprehensive way from its fundamental aspects to the design and development of the whole process. This aim will be addressed by pursuing the following specific goals:
1) experimental and modeling characterization of the elementary phenomena involved in the carbonation of silicate minerals in an aqueous environment, with particular reference to the thermodynamics of the system constituted of a gas, a liquid, and one or more solid phases under high pressure, and to the rates of the fundamental steps involved, i.e. dissolution of minerals and carbon dioxide, chemical reaction, and precipitation of the solid products; 2) design of the overall carbonation process (one step or multi-step, in an aqueous suspension), from silicate minerals and carbon dioxide to solid products, i.e. carbonates and silica, including modeling and optimization of the process, as well as design, build-up, and operation of a laboratory unit; it will be assumed that pure carbon dioxide under pressure be available (see the figure below for a scheme of the different process stages). The project involves one post-doc research associate and one Ph.D. student, as well as a co-operation with the Departments of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences and of Earth Sciences of ETHZ, and with the LonzaGroup.

Enhanced coal bed methane recovery finalized to carbon dioxide storage: study of the adsorption and swelling phenomena, and of the coal bed dynamics: This project aims at achieving the understanding required to embark in Enhanced Coal Bed Methane field tests on a larger scale than now, and focuses on the following three aspects: 1) the experimental and modeling characterization of binary and multicomponent competitive adsorption and swelling of CO2, CH4 and N2 on different adsorbents, including different coal types, both dry and wet; 2) the experimental and modelling study of the coalbed dynamics using breakthrough experiments, including the effect of the injection of CO2 on matrix swelling and permeability; 3) the integration of the results of the first two points and the development of comprehensive modelling tools for the whole ECBM process as an enabling preliminary activity for possible future field tests. The project involves two Ph.D. students, who co-operate on all the experimental, theoretical and modelling aspects of the project, as well as a tight co-operation with the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences of ETHZ, and the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia in Rome, Italy.

Feasibility study for a field test of carbon dioxide geological storage in Switzerland: This project aims at making the first step, i.e. at carrying out a feasibility study of such CO2 injection field test and of a nation-wide mapping study, and at defining partners involved and costs expected. A key element will be the evaluation of the possible CO2 source-geological sink coupling. The objectives of this project are as follows: (i) to carry out a regional analysis of suitable geological formations for CO2 storage that can be reached through existing wells, and an assessment of their storage potential according to the international standards, specifications, and experience. (ii) To define a consortium of partners, a project plan and a budget for the storage of five to ten thousand tons of CO2 per year in a selected injection site. This will include CO2 preparation and transport, as well as regulatory and social aspects. (iii) To define a consortium of partners, a project plan and a budget for the mapping of all possible carbon dioxide storage sites in Switzerland, including source-sink coupling possibilities.

Switzerland also has an RTD agreement with EU and is currently contemplating a national Swiss study of possibilities for geological stoarga e with a view also to the definition of a CO2 injection experiment. It has been agreed to make a cooperation agreement with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH), Switzerland, described below.