Importance

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Abstract

Lake Kivu contains ˜50 million tonnes (MT) dissolved biomethane. Efficient use is problematic from massive associated CO₂: ˜600 MT. Conventional extraction scrubs CO₂ with ˜50% overall CH₄ loss, and returns ˜80% CO₂ into the deep lake, preserving a catastrophe hazard threatening >2 M people. Methods and systems are disclosed coupling: (1) efficient CH₄+CO₂ degassing; (2) optional oxyfuel power generation and CO₂ power cycle technologies; and (3) CO₂ capture, processing, storage and use in a utilization hub. The invention optimally allows power production with >2× improved efficiency plus cryo-energy storage and large-scale greentech industrialization. CO₂-utilizing products can include: Mg-cements/building materials, algal products/biofuels, urea, bioplastics and recycled materials, plus CO₂ for greenhouse agriculture, CO₂-EOR/CCS, off-grid cooling, fumigants, solvents, carbonation, packaging, ores-, biomass-, and agro-processing, cold pasteurization, frack and geothermal fluids, and inputs to produce methanol, DME, CO, syngas, formic acid, bicarbonate and other greentech chemicals, fuels, fertilizers and carbon products.

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First Claim