Jun 12 2008
Mantra Venture Group Ltd. (Mantra) releases its latest information on the on-going commercialization of its ERC technology.
The International Energy Agency warns in a speech (June 6, 2008) that, "investment totaling $45 trillion might be needed over the next half-century (1.1% of the annual global output over the period to 2050) to prevent energy shortages and greenhouse gas emissions from undermining global economic growth". This is substantial, given that James Cameron, Vice Chair of Climate Change Capital, is quoted on June 10, 2008 as saying, "$57 trillion in private capital...currently exists". But the investment is needed over a 50 year span and the world economy is expected to grow during that time.
IEA went on to discuss technologies for "weaning the world off oil". They propose that investments of $100 to $200 billion per year will be needed over the next 10 years, rising to $1 trillion to $2 trillion a year in the following decades.
John Russell, Vice-President of Mantra remarks, "It is clear that carbon management is not going to be an inexpensive undertaking. Managing carbon is going to be big business for the next 2 generations at least." Mantra is well placed to make a contribution with its proven ERC (electro reduction of CO(2)) technology: it uses CO(2) as a raw material and makes a valuable chemical that can be used to power a fuel cell. ERC is not yet a fully developed product, but promises to be a significant alternative to CCS (carbon capture and sequestration).
It has these advantages: there is a payback for the users rather than cost only (the economics are projected to be very different). With CCS, it is expected to be decades before it's in use by utilities and industry, and 2050 before it is in common use. Once CCS has placed volumes of CO(2) underground, the gas may continue to be a risk. ERC can be available much sooner, at less cost, and with no risk.
"Both CCS and ERC technologies have their advantages and both will be required to meet the size and urgency of the carbon management requirement," says Larry Kristof, President and CEO of Mantra.
As of June 1, 2008, ERC has been moved to the Mantra lab where it is being optimized; while worldwide patenting continues. Pilot project sized units are projected to be available within 12 months. A 100 metric ton per day plant is projected to be available to customers within 24 months and a 600 metric ton per day plant will follow shortly thereafter. The fuel cell is planned to be developed concurrently.
Based on the sums of money required for carbon management and the multi-billion dollar market projected for CCS, the long-term market for ERC is expected to be similarly large. A precise market projection must await certain figures which will be refined during the optimization phase.
Mantra will be issuing regular updates on ERC to its public thru its web site, press releases and interviews. Some industries interested in hosting a demonstration of the ERC technology have made contact with Mantra - valuable projects tend to flow from established relationships.