Ancient volcanic rock formations could store industrial CO2 waste

ANCIENT rocks formed by volcanoes could safely store millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide by turning it to stone, researchers have said.

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Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have identified several underground volcanic formations around the UK that they say could store more than 3,000 million tonnes of industrial CO2 waste, which they say is approximately equivalent to 45 years worth of UK industrial emissions.

Some areas deemed fit by researchers include places in Co Antrim in Northern Ireland, the Isle of Skye in Scotland, and in the Lake District, England.

The teams say the areas are rich in calcium and magnesium, which binds with CO2 to form a solid mineral in a process known as carbon mineralisation.

The process works by dissolving captured CO2 in water, which is then injected into volcanic rocks deep underground.