The first trial involving CSIRO of pumping carbon dioxide deep underground to store that gas in coal seams too deep to mine has been conducted in Poland. The Energy Transfer Flagship program is working as part of an international team.

Howard has committed $500million to geosequestration as his lead initiative in reducing greenhouse gas production in Australia and if our technology is especially exciting, it will also be available for sale overseas.

Carbon dioxide is pumped via a deep well into absorbent strata, in Poland coal beds are being trailled. As the carbon dioxide latches onto the coal, methane gas is released and moves to the surface via a second well.

The expected rate of injection was 20 tonnes of CO2 per day has not been met so further work to prove up this technique and solve the problems associated with the rate of injection and ensuring that the gas does not leak to the surface in a few years is needed.

A potential side benefit is the methane released. It must be burnt and so could be used to generate power. Failure to do so would make a mockery of the work, methane being a 62 times more powerful greenhouse gas than CO2.

Whilst these first steps may lead to a means of burning coal to generate electricity without greenhouse imapcts the conversiion of the current plants is beyond the many years it will take to make this work effectively, a lead time of several decades.

Unsustainable

In that time demand could be reduced by up to 40% through the installation of solar and reverse cycle water heaters across the nation. South Australia has taken its first steps.

Time for all the mouths making noises about action whilst sitting still to pop put their legislative digits and start programs to convert the nation from the unsustainable.

That way we will be producing less greenhouse gas from fewer coal fired stations, making the conversion to geosequestration cheaper if it becomes available and also expanding the coal reserve.

No doubt these mouthy politicians are as worried about employment in mining and burning these dead forests as they have been about the living ones. Reducing the mining workforce by up to 40% would kill Labor in some heartland seats and reducing the current rate of coal mining would see heartland Liberals walk.

Complete mine and power plant closures are the result of such a conversion and I doubt if the hot water industry would expand sufficiently to take up the slack even with a 20 year phase in for converting from electrical water heating slowly reducing the demand for coal.

Therefore, whilst the idea of low energy cost water heating has great potential in creating a more sustainable lifestyle for all humans, its implementation will be at a snail’s pace with mad ideas like nuclear power with its additional employment holding sway whilst solutions are viewed as single projects.

Taking sustainability as a greater whole and getting the synergy from combining several actions is one way to lessen the downside impacts of changing society.

Roof spaces

Combining solar conversion of water heating with reducing the demand on water storages by bringing the roof spaces of Australia into use as water catchments and collecting the water in tanks for non drinking uses would be such a synergy.

Clean water for drinking, washing and cooking are an essential for health. Flushing the toilet, washing the car, watering the garden could use water caught on the roof, not potable water.

In Sydney, the rainfall on the coastal strip has increased whilst it has fallen in the Warragamba catchment. The national weather may tells us about rainfall in the state capitals.

Whilst perhaps not as cost effective as building a new dam in another catchment when only the cost of the dam and pipes are counted, with the unstated costs such as environmental degradation and lost opportunity, the utilization of an already degraded area, the roof, could supply the non drinking uses directly.

Perhaps single roof catchments are not as sexy as desalination at a new plant with all the announcements and ribbon cutting opportunites. The humble water tank requires no additional power, with its associated pollution, to run.

Black future

Yes, it is a chance to move from mining to making and installing water tanks. However, climate change cannot be referred to as a looming emergency with a crisis out there if avoidance of meaningful action is the actual position of those making a green line with their lips and a black future through their actions.

The total roofspace of Australia’s major cities is clear to anyone who has flown into one in a window seat. Located near its point of use, little additional reticulation is necessary. Rainfall patterns and volumes are well recorded so designing the size of storages is a simple matter.

It does not negate the re-use of water from washing.

And let’s not hear the cry that the backyard of the McMansion is too small, slimline tanks, unrground tanks, using tanks to store solar heated water for winter home heating, the innovative water storing backyard fence are either currently available or only need a market to stimulate their manufacture.

Low volume users of water from their rooves, such as industrial estates, may be located so their storage can report to higher use areas. Little schemes with ribbon cutting opportunities.

The stormwater system is not stretched as frequently, the storage acting as a buffer.

Paying for the tank is similar to the conversion of water heating. Continuing to charge for the historical use through the meter gives a component of water unused to refill storages as a buffer against any long term decline in rainfall, to restore confidence in processing industries dependent on water, reduces the environmetal impact of roof run-off.

All these benefits may not turn a coin but they do have a cost and so a value. Not to take that into account when asssesing the value of a scheme to return to water tanks in the city is only fooling ourselves and the end cost of that could be too much for all the Treasuries.

phill Parsons  is amused by the big scheme solution when a tweak at home, multiplied by the millions there are, will have such widespread impacts on our environment. Niche alternative solutions may not make the politicians mate rich but they are available today and entail little economic cost making them eminently achievable.