Perspective—Low-Carbon Electricity Is Great: What about “Less-Carbon”?

Abstract

This article posits a technological roadmap for the continued use of fossil fuels for power generation with total carbon capture. Combustion-based power from fossil fuels carries great risks for the sustainability of our planet. Less-carbon power generation in high temperature fuel cells provides the best option for achieving sustainable use of fossil fuels, albeit not without their own challenges. They offer efficient conversion with near capture-ready CO2 emissions. They eliminate significant energy penalties and costs associated with carbon capture, and also diminish the need for freshwater withdrawal. Unlike low-carbon technologies that refer to the carbon content or the generation source on the input side of power generation, "less-carbon" concept relates to the output side of generation, and specifically demands reduced emissions with total carbon capture.