There has been increasing number of successful implementations and emerging projects for carbon capture and storage technology.
Overview of Carbon Capture and Utilization Technology
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a way of reducing carbon emissions. It’s a three-step process, involving: capturing the carbon dioxide produced by power generation or industrial activity, such as steel or cement making; transporting it; and then storing it deep underground. There are three main types of carbon capture technologies:
- Post-combustion capture: This process involves capturing CO2 after the fossil fuel is burned, typically by using solvents to absorb the gas.
- Pre-combustion capture: Here, CO2 is captured before the combustion process by converting the fuel into a mixture of hydrogen and CO2, allowing for easier separation.
- Oxy-fuel combustion: This method involves burning the fuel in oxygen instead of air, resulting in a high concentration of CO2 in the exhaust stream, which can be easily captured.
Successful Recent Implementations of Carbon Capture Solutions
- NRG Energy and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries – Petra Nova Project
- The Petra Nova project, is a collaboration between NRG Energy and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Located in Texas, the facility captures over 1.6 million tons of CO2 per year from a coal-fired power plant, reducing emissions by 90%. The captured CO2 is then utilized for enhanced oil recovery, boosting oil production in the region.
- Equinor, Shell, and Total – Northern Lights Project
- The Northern Lights project is a joint venture between Equinor, Shell, and Total. It aims to capture and store CO2 from industrial sources in the North Sea. The project has a capacity of up to 5 million tons of CO2 per year and expects to capture emissions from cement production, waste incineration, and other industries. Annual CO2 emissions reduction of 10% predicted in Norway.
- LanzaTech & ArcellorMittal – Carbon Recycling Technology
- LanzaTech’s innovative carbon recycling technology involves capturing industrial waste gases and converting them into useful products, such as ethanol and chemicals. ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel producer, partnered with LanzaTech to implement this technology at its steel plant in Belgium. The project captures 50,000 tons of CO2 annually and converts it into 80 million liters of ethanol, reducing both emissions and waste.
- CarbonCure Technologies – Concrete Carbonation
- CarbonCure Technologies has developed a process that involves injecting CO2 into concrete during production. The CO2 reacts with calcium ions in the cement to form solid calcium carbonate, strengthening the concrete and permanently storing the captured carbon. This technology has been implemented in over 200 plants, resulting in a reduction of more than 75,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year
- Climeworks and CarbFix – Direct Air Capture and Storage
- Swiss company Climeworks, in collaboration with Icelandic firm CarbFix, has developed a direct air capture (DAC) technology that captures CO2 directly from the atmosphere. The captured CO2 is then combined with water and injected into basaltic rock formations, where it mineralizes into solid rock. The Orca plant, their flagship facility in Iceland, captures 4,000 tons of CO2 per year, demonstrating the potential of DAC for large-scale carbon capture and storage.
Upcoming Implementation Projects in Carbon Capture Technology
- Chevron, Schlumberger, and Microsoft – Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)
Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) is a technology that combines the production of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, resulting in net-negative emissions. Chevron, Schlumberger, and Microsoft have announced a partnership to develop a BECCS plant that aims to capture 300,000 tons of CO2 per year from biomass, while generating 16 MW of clean energy. - ExxonMobil – FuelCell Energy Carbon Capture Project
ExxonMobil is partnering with FuelCell Energy to develop a novel carbon capture technology using fuel cells. The project aims to capture CO2 from natural gas-fired power plants and utilize it for enhanced oil recovery. Expected to capture upto 90% of emissions - Drax Power Station – Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS)
Drax Power Station (UK) is planning to implement a Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) system. The project aims to capture 8 million tons of CO2 per year by 2030. The captured CO2 will be used for various applications, including enhanced oil recovery and production of chemicals.
