Four ways to capture CO2

I recently attended an even at the IChemE (Institute of Chemical Engineers) which presented the four (perhaps three-and-a-half) methods of capturing CO2.

What strikes me is how far down the production path these four methods are.

Flue gas scrubbing
This is the traditional approach, with the CO2 being scrubbed from the flue gasses just before they all go up the chimney.
Progress: A test plant is being built at the RWE test rig at Didcott, oxfordshire. This is due to be scaled up for a larger pilot plant, to be built at Aberthaw power station. At 1MW the pilot plant will be 1/300th of the size of the plant envisaged by the governments competition, so whilst it's small it is essential. The next step after this will probably be a commercial sized plant.

Oxycoal combustion
This is a new approach, where coal is burnt in a CO2 / oxygen mix. Since there is little nitrogen in this mix the combustion gases can, pretty much, just be piped straight underground (okay, some treatment is required).
Progress: Doosan Babcock is to build a 40MW test rig to prove the concept.

Gasification
Known as an IGCC plant the coal is gassified leaving a gas stream of just CO2 and water.
Progress: The components for the Hatfiled IGCC have been ordered, and provided nothing goes wrong it will be built and running by 2013.
Capture on this is obviously very easy, and the technology has been well proven.

Gasification and oxycombustion
A clever bunch of people at Jacobs engineering have worked out a method of burning the gasified coal gas, in pure oxygen and then sending the gas through a gas turbine and boiler to extract energy.
It's a great idea.
Progress: A demonstation plant is due to be built next to the Hatfield site.

All told it all looks very promising!