Projects supported under the ACT3 Call
The 13 projects funded under the ACT3 Call is listed alphabetically below
ABSALT
Project title
Accelerating Basic Solid Adsorbent Looping Technology
Project coordinator
University of Nottingham
Project leader
Colin SNape
Project period
Autumn 2021 – autumn 2024
Support from ACT
€ 1.4 M
Website
Summary
CO2 capture and storage (CCS) from large point anthropogenic sources, including coal and natural gas power plant and industrial processes is recognised to be one of the most effective measures to the European Union’s commitment to reach climate neutrality by 2050 and mitigate against global warming staying within 1.5 oC of pre-industrial levels during the remainder of the 21st century. Post-combustion CO2 capture (PCC) will play a key role since it can be retrofitted and adapted to existing power plant and industrial processes. Amine scrubbing is the most mature technology having been adapted from separating CO2 from natural gas. However, amine scrubbing has limitations, including high energy demand for regenerating the solvent and environmental problems such as volatile amine loss and reactor corrosion, which are not completely solved by using mixed amines rather than monoethanolamine (MEA). These factors result in relatively high capture costs and this has catalysed the development of alternative or second-generation technologies. Although showing considerable promise as such a technology, solid adsorbents are at a relatively early stage of development and have not been investigated extensively at pilot-scale and demonstration scale.
Silica-polyethylenimine (PEI) is a leading candidate amongst strongly basic adsorbents for both PCC and direct air capture. The key drivers to the successful implementation of silica-PEI in solid adsorbent looping technology (SALT) using fluidised-beds for both adsorption and desorption are (i) maximising the working dynamic CO2 adsorption capacity at high capture efficiencies and (ii) keeping the adsorbent replacement costs below ca. 10 € per tonne of CO2 captured, which will be comparable to those for MEA in amine scrubbing. Initial analysis indicates that lifetimes approaching 12 months will be required, assuming conservative performance parameters in terms of dynamic adsorption capacity and heat recovery. Therefore, the overall aim of the proposed two-year research programme is to demonstrate that such lifetimes can be achieved by optimising silica-PEI composition and SALT can achieve lower capture costs through maximising the dynamic CO2 adsorption capacity in continuous operation which will reduce the regeneration energy to approaching 2.0 GJ/tonne CO2. Further, the scope to reduce costs by recovering the silica from spent adsorbent and converting the PEI to chemical feedstocks will be explored. The findings will provide a basis of comparison with other technologies, including advanced amines and oxyfuel combustion where the focus will be on the cement industry.
The performance of silica-PEI will be optimised in terms of the working dynamic CO2 adsorption capacity and the physical and chemical stability with respect to flue gases representing PCC from power plants and industrial processes, such as cement and lime production, in pilot-scale facilities using 5-20 kg of adsorbent. PEI will be stabilised through alkoxylation and the optimum level will be established so as not to vastly reduce the CO2 adsorption capacity. The PEI will be further stabilised with an antioxidant and a chelating agent. Further, surfactants will improve the CO2 adsorption kinetics and through this, the dynamic working capacity. Regeneration strategies will be devised so that that the silica can be recycled and, when PEI degrades, it can be pyrolyzed to yield platform chemicals that potentially have high market value. Comprehensive techno-economic analysis and life cycle analysis (LCA) of SALT including the material replacement costs will be conducted, together with an initial high-level design of a demonstration facility operating at 10 MWe equivalent for a cement/lime plant. Achieving the results anticipated will enable SALT to be bench marked in relation to amine scrubbing and oxyfuel combustion for both natural gas CCGT power plants and cement/lime production and provide the platform for taking silica-PEI SALT to full demonstrations at TRL 6-8.
The Consortium brings together PQ Corporation and BASF who are global manufacturers of silicas and PEI, respectively and with the University of Nottingham will use their materials expertise to optimise the composition of silica-PEI. The University of Ulster, CERTH and CEMEX have extensive experience in techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA), the involvement of CEMEX enabling us to address in detail the application of SALT to cement plants. The University of Bologna, CERTH and the University of Nottingham have extensive expertise in pyrolysis for recycling the silica and converting the spent PEI to potentially valuable chemicals.
The project is divided into seven work-packages:
WP1 Silica selection and properties
WP2 PEI preparation and properties
WP3 Additives, silica-PEI preparation and screening
WP4 Pilot-scale testing
WP5 Regeneration strategies for silica-PEI
WP6 Techno-economics and high-level demonstration plant design
WP7 Environmental Assessment via Life cycle Analysis and project risk assessment
The proposed research is relevant to the ACT objective of accelerating and maturing CCS technology and will achieve impact by being:
Cost effective: One of the major barriers associated with CCS in heavy industries in Europe is the high capital cost and high energy penalty. SALT can achieve lower capture costs through maximising the dynamic CO2 adsorption capacity in continuous operation which will reduce the regeneration energy to approaching 2.0 GJ/tonne CO2. This leads to low costs for CO2 capture compared to other CO2 capture technologies. The expected CO2 avoidance cost would be below 45 €/tonne CO2.
Environmentally beneficial: ABSALT is based on the SALT which is environmentally friendly. High CO2 capture rates for the ABSALT process of more than 90% can be expected enabling a significant reduction of CO2 emissions from cement industries.
Accelerating the time to market of CCS: The proposed project will implement a high-level design and demonstrate the ABSALT concepts at industrially relevant conditions (TRL 6) and provide a comprehensive assessment of the ABSALT integration concept, which will allow end users of cement plants to evaluate this technology in comparison with other CCS solutions.
Governance of the project will be through the Project Management Group (PMG) will comprise the Coordinator and the lead scientific representative for each organisation which will include WP Leaders and will be responsible for day-to-day management and an early career researcher (ECR). It will also review progress and identifying where deviations from research plan might be required. In addition, where specific activities are discussed, the investigators responsible will also attend. Monthly meetings via video-link and, depending upon future guidelines regarding social distancing, six monthly face to face progress meetings to ensure there is clear and regular communication. WP leaders will be responsible for ensuring specific objectives are met and the sub-tasks proceed according to the Project Plan. Project Forum meetings involving all the investigators and researchers will be held every second month to focus solely on scientific and technical progress and any issues encountered. An ECR Forum will also be established to help all the researchers with their development needs and to ensure they are aware of all the project activities.
ACTION
Project title
Advanced Multitemporal Modelling and Optimisation of CO2 Transport and Storage Networks
Project coordinator
Imperial College London
Project leader
Anna Korre
Project period
Autumn 2021 – autumn 2024
Support from ACT
€ 2 M
Website
Summary
ACTiON (Advanced multitemporal modelling and optimisation of CO2 Transport, Utilisation and stOrage Networks) is a project from the ACT3 programme with its main objective to establish how an efficient infrastructure, connecting CO2 sources with CO2 geological storage and non‐ geological utilisation options, can be developed as part of regional decarbonisation efforts. To achieve this, ACTiON aims to research and develop a multitemporal integrated assessment model that will support stakeholders in the planning and design of large‐scale, flexible CO2 transport, utilisation and storage networks, and enable reporting on decarbonisation efforts. Besides addressing geological and engineering constraints, the project will also address the impact of economic conditions and regulatory environment, as well as the unavoidable uncertainties in defining them.
In this work, the term ‘multitemporal’ refers to time scales from hours or days, related to network operability with variable CO2 supply rates, to years, related to network evolution in response to changes in supply and the development of new storage sites, and finally to decades, related to long‐term decarbonisation targets. The project aims to address and demonstrate the interplay between the CCUS processes by combining them into integrated component models for optimisation of capture, transport, utilisation and storage networks to support stakeholders in large scale CCUS deployment. Complex subsurface and engineering features and processes, such as geological flow barriers, geomechanical constraints and well performance, will be implemented as modular computationally independent proxy models to provide the building blocks for integrated models. Similar resolution proxy models will be developed for capture, conversion and utilisation options to provide fine scale temporal resolution for expected and required CO2 supply, energy, other important resources to be consumed and produced (e.g., biomass, H2, syngas, chemicals).
Considering transport infrastructure, an efficient and sustainable CCUS system incorporates planning all the stages between collecting and transporting the CO2 from the emission sources to the site where the CO2 is utilised, or is geologically stored. Until recently, network assessments have been considered within a site‐specific evaluation framework and source–sink matching in the long‐term planning horizon. However, none of these programmes have considered in an integrated framework, the network operability issues, the multitemporal dimension and the strategic decarbonisation aspects of the challenges that need to be addressed for the successful deployment of large‐scale CCS networks. As case examples, ACTiON will consider networks that link multiple suppliers of CO2 to multiple injection wells an storage locations, including depleted fields, saline aquifers and EOR. The multitemporal modelling capabilities to be developed will be applied to a number of case studies, that cover the approaches to CCUS network development in different ACT member countries. Pipeline and ship transport will be included, as will be networks of different complexity aiming to support the development of fit‐for‐purpose, future‐proof CO2 transport, utilisation and storage networks. Future CCUS network scenarios to be investigated include Porthos/Aramis in the Netherlands, the Net Zero Teesside and Northern Endurance clusters and the South Wales Industry Cluster in the UK, the Longship/Northern Lights CCS case study in the North Sea, the Dunkirk‐North Sea CCS cluster, Getica CCS project in Romania, Western Canada Region/Alberta Carbon Trunk Line system in Canada, and the Southwest region of US including the four states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.
CEMENTEGRITY
Project title
CEMENTEGRITY – Development and testing of novel cement designs for enhanced CCS well integrity
Project coordinator
IFE - Institute for Energy Technology
Project leader
Reinier van Noort
Project period
Autumn 2021 – autumn 2024
Support from ACT
€ 2 M
Website
Summary
The leakage of CO2 through or along wellbores has been identified as one of the main challenges to secure subsurface CO2-storage. Currently used wellbore sealants, commonly based on Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), can be a large vulnerability during CO2-injection and -storage. Leakages may form through the cement, or along the cement-steel or cement-rock interfaces, as the result of chemical, thermal, or mechanical effects. Therefore, better sealants are needed, that can prevent leakages from forming, and that preferably demonstrate self-healing capabilities when leakage pathways do form. In order to successfully develop such materials, critical properties need to be identified that will ensure seal integrity, and practical methods and procedures for measuring these properties under in-situ conditions need to be developed, along with models for their extrapolation.
CEMENTEGRITY will address the chemical, thermal and mechanical mechanisms that may damage wellbore integrity during CO2-injection and -storage, through experimental research on five different sealant compositions, that vary from OPC-based compositions representative of currently used sealants, to newly developed, rock-based geopolymers. The experimental work will be supported by numerical modelling.
WP1 will perform flow-through experiments with sub-supercritical and supercritical CO2, in an aqueous environment, to test changes in permeability and mechanical properties resulting from leaching and precipitation.
WP2 will expose sealants to supercritical CO2 containing H2S as well as other common impurities, to investigate changes in mineral composition.
WP3 will expose sealant specimens to thermal shocks and cycling, to observe thermally-induced cracking, and the formation of leakage pathway along the annular contacts between sealant and wellbore.
WP4 will develop numerical models to extrapolate experimental results, focusing particularly on geopolymer systems.
WP5 will measure sealant-steel bond strengths and develop electrical resistivity methods for insitu monitoring of sealant and interface integrities.
WP6 will develop a novel, rock-based geopolymer sealant specifically for CCS applications.
Based on these WPs, WP7 will identify key properties to ensure long-term integrity of wellbore seals during CCS, as well as suitable methods for measuring these properties. These methods can then be applied when developing new sealants for CCS, to ensure the long-term integrity of these sealants when used during CCS.
Governance: The Cementegrity project is coordinated by IFE, in Norway. National Contacts are IFE in Norway, Delft Technical University in the Netherlands, and Heriot-Watt University in the UK.
CoCaCO2La
Project title
Conversion of Captured CO2 to Industrial Chemicals
Project coordinator
TWI Ltd
Project leader
Namrata Kale
Project period
Autumn 2021 – autumn 2024
Support from ACT
€ 1.2 M
Website
Not available yet
Summary
CoCaCO2la will develop a room temperature isothermally integrated carbon capture and utilization (CCU) system that will combine phase change solvents (PCS) based CO2 capture with an intensified captured CO2 co-electrolysis (ICC) unit that allows CO2 reduction and solvent regeneration in a single unit operation. PCS composed of mixtures of primary/secondary and tertiary amines, can achieve high loads (and fast kinetics) of CO2 captured as bicarbonate (HCO3-) will be directly fed into the ICC for CO2 reduction with high utilization. Within the ICC unit, CO2 stripping is promoted by the protons transferred in the electrochemical cell. CO2 is released in-situ, isothermally with the absorption unit, and in the vicinity of the electrocatalyst, enabling high CO2 localized concentration, and efficient electrochemical reduction. Unreacted CO2 can be re-captured facilitating the purification of the gaseous products.
The separation of ethylene from gaseous CO2RR products will be accomplished by hydrophobic polymer FTMs. The CO2RR products gas feed stream will have H2O (water vapour) removed by a knock-out process prior to the proposed alkene separation. An organic complexed silver salt incorporated into a hydrophobic polymer that provide excellent facilitated transport for ethylene will be used as a starting point to develop FTMs with high olefin permeabilities and selectivities.
CoCaCO2la will use Cu as electrocatalyst by coating it onto the electrode surface via industrial methods such as thermal/cold spray and benchmark it against electrodeposition. These allow cost-effective production route (with a potential for industrial uptake) in addition to the versatility of ease of repair and re-use. The microstructure of the coated Cu layer can be modified by changing the process parameters, enabling high ethylene selectivity.
CoCaCO2La is divided into 9 work-packages:
WP1 Setup, Gap Analysis and KPI definition - To develop the detailed key performance indicators for project success, and for the detailed final designs for the demonstration system. These will be maintained as working documents, updated throughout the project as knowledge and situations change, to ensure that all partners are working from the same set of success criteria
WP2 CO2 Capture and delivery system - To identify an efficient phase-change solvent for the requirements of the process considered in this project, to fully characterize the solvent with respect to relevant process properties and to design an optimum layout (structure, operating conditions) for the CO2 capture and delivery system.
WP3 Catalyst material optimisation - To optimise the performance and cost effectiveness of production for the catalyst materials.
WP4 Electrode developments - To define and optimise the electrode production parameters and processes and then produce samples electrodes at 10cm2 each.
WP5 Ethylene separation system – To determine which membrane(s) are best for ethylene purification from the CO2R source gases. To achieve the integration of the electrolyser design and the purification of the ethylene stream using the selected membrane technologies.
WP6 Electrolyser integration and Optimisation – To design and construction of an electrochemical cell that allows experimental evaluation of electrocatalyst and electrolyte for the electrolysis of captured CO2 to ethylene.
WP7 Carbon Footprint and Sustainability Assessments - To derive Environmental, Techno-economic and social acceptance evaluations of the concept and its fit to current and future market drivers, to guide and support the project direction, dissemination and market penetration objectives
WP8 Dissemination, Engagement and Exploitation Planning - Formation of the advisory group; To frame diversified exploitation plan; IPR strategy and file patents; To outline diversified business proposal. To formalise a dissemination strategy and participate in dissemination activities
WP9 Project Management - Efficient administrative execution of the project, so that all knowledge is created, managed and disseminated in a coordinated and coherent manner and that all technical activities, financial and legal aspects and other issues are managed to a high standard. Ensure all requirements for communication and reporting are fulfilled. Risk management and definition of contingency planning. Management of IP is efficiently handled
Governance: This Project is an ‘Accelerating CS Technologies’ (ACT) funding initiative which involves the following Multi-National Collaborators; TWI Ltd (Project Co-Ordinator), University of Leicester, Technovative Solutions Ltd, Pilkington Technical Management Ltd, ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXIS (Centre for Research & Technology Hellas - CERTH) and Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
CooCE
Project title
Harnessing Potential of Biological CO2 Capture for Circular Economy
Project coordinator
University of Padova
Project leader
Tomas Morosinotto
Project period
Autumn 2021 – autumn 2024
Support from ACT
€ 1.5 M
Website
Summary
The exploitation of CO2 capture, utilisation and storage technologies (CCUS) in industrial applications face significant challenges due to the high investment cost and the fierce international competition in the sectors concerned. Nonetheless, it is widely known that these industrial sectors currently account for 20% of global CO2 emissions, and according to the 2-degree scenario of the Paris agreement, they should represent half of the stored CO2 by 2050. In this frame, relevant sectors with high CO2 emissions are for example steel, iron and cement making, biofuel production and waste incineration plants, oil refining, gas processing, hydrogen production. The CooCE project has an absolute aim to accelerate the use of CCUS and revolutionize CO2 capture and utilization by closing carbon loops in a circular economy approach.
CREATE
Project title
Carbon Reforming to Economic Additives for Transitioning into Emission-less era (CREATE)
Project coordinator
Carbonova Corp.
Project leader
Mina Zarabian
Project period
Autumn 2021 – autumn 2024
Support from ACT
€ 0.6 M
Website
Not available yet
Summary
This project aim to accelerate a new carbon capture and utilization technology for large CO2 emitters through the conversion of waste heat and industrial CO2 streams into valuable products. The core new technology is based on the Carbonova process that is a unique revolutionary chemical process with novel catalysts and equipment. This process uses carbon dioxide and natural gas in a chemical reactor, where they are combined with waste heat from other processes (such as a cement production or a power plant)) and converted into the carbon nanofibres (CNF).
ENSURE
Project title
Effective monitoring of long-term site stability for transparent carbon capture and storage hazard assessment
Project coordinator
NORSAR
Project leader
Bettina Goertz-Allmann
Project period
Autumn 2021 – autumn 2024
Support from ACT
€ 1.2 M
Website
Summary
Microseismic monitoring represents a key surveillance technology to verify the integrity of any large-scale CO2 storage, since the interpretation of microseismic events provides direct insights on of CO2 migration within the storage reservoir and on potential caprock failure within the overburden. Verification of seal integrity is a major challenge of CCS technology as it requires the recognition of tiny precursor movements as indicators of injection-related reservoir and caprock dynamics before potential seal failure. Optimally designing, cost-efficient, fit-forpurpose monitoring systems for this purpose have been identified as a critical knowledge gap. At the same time, public acceptance of CCS technology hinges on the ability of the general public to differentiate between harmless microseismic deformations (perceived risks) and earthquakes with damaging potential (actual risks). To avoid the pitfall that improved microseismic monitoring, and thus enhanced operational safety, is perceived as an increased threat due to a larger number of registered, though small events, we see the need for a more effective communication strategy to establish trust and transparency between CO2 storage operators and the public.
The goal of the ENSURE project is to advance microseismic monitoring technology to become an accepted tool for seal integrity verification in large-scale CO2 sequestration operations. This requires a robust determination of microseismic detection thresholds, novel microseismic processing tools for long-term seal stability assessment, as well as analysing differences in public views and perceived risks towards CCS-induced seismicity. We reach this goal through developing advanced analysis tools and comparing existing and new data from a variety of sensor types and networks at various sites in several project countries, including fiberoptic sensors and new data acquisition. This will lead to design recommendations for cost-effective, fit-for-purpose networks and provide a strategy for translation of seismological observables into traffic-light-system threshold values. Public perceptions, preferences, and alternative means of communication of CCS technology will be assessed by state-of-the-art empirical socioeconomic survey methods using scenarios and parameters provided by the seismological analysis. This will result in recommendations on effective communication strategies for advancing public trust in CCS technology.
This study is a first of its kind comprehensive data-driven study to not only assess but also optimize the quality and efficiency of microseismic monitoring arrays for CCS seal integrity verification. The existing monitoring infrastructure including Quest (Canada), Southern France (France), Offshore Southern North Sea, (UK), HNAR (Norway), Decatur (Illinois, US), and Dover-33 (Michigan, US), made available through our involved industry partners is unprecedented in the CCS context and will, for the first time, provide the means to conduct a comparative analysis of field-acquired CCS microseismic monitoring data across sites and countries. We anticipate improving the reliability and accuracy of traffic light systems and hazard forecasts by identifying seismological discriminants and tools to guide traffic light system feedback loops and decision support systems. Since our project brings together key industry players with academic institutions, we will provide a focused, yet vital contribution to accelerate the time to market for CCS technology.
The project will be delivered through a multidisciplinary, trans-national consortium of 9 partners from 7 countries. Three work packages will be carried out over three years to address the above stated objectives. The first work package (WP 1) deals with success factors for robust validation of seal integrity with cost-effective monitoring networks. The second work package (WP 2) strives for an advanced microseismic interpretation and comparison between sites. The third work package (WP 3) pursues effective communication strategies to the public and stakeholders.
EverLoNG
Project title
Demonstration of ship-based carbon capture on LNG fuelled ships
Project coordinator
TNO, Netherlands Organisation for applied scientific research
Project leader
Marco Linders
Project period
Autumn 2021 – autumn 2024
Support from ACT
€ 3.4 M
Website
Summary
The maritime sector aims to reduce CO2 emissions from international shipping by at least 50 % by 2050. Ship-Based Carbon Capture (SBCC) is proposed as a low-cost alternative to decarbonize the maritime sector, as compared to zero-emission fuels (ammonia, hydrogen). The objective of the EverLoNG project is to accelerate the implementation of the SBCC technology by: (i) demonstrating SBCC on-board of LNG-fuelled ships; (ii) optimising SBCC integration to the existing ship infrastructure; (iii) facilitating the development of SBCC-based full CCUS chains; (iv) facilitating the regulatory framework for the technology.
EverLoNG will validate and demonstrate the SBCC technology on-board of two LNG-fuelled ships, owned and operated by project partners TotalEnergies and Heerema. The demonstration will bring SBCC from TRL4 to TRL7. A graphical summary of the project is given in Figure 1, which also shows the project partners. To accelerate the SBCC technology implementation, EverLoNG will close knowledge gaps and address challenges in both technical and commercial levels. The project will run for 3 years, during which we will:
Develop strategies for reducing CO2 emissions of ships by at least 70%, taking the same ship running on LNG but not equipped with SBCC as the reference case; and demonstrate the emission reduction potential of SBCC according to the EEDI and EEXI guidelines;
Develop solutions to improve the cost effectiveness of SBCC, achieving CO2 capture and onboard storage costs below 100 €/ton (1st of a kind, to be achieved by 2025) and 50 €/ton (nth of a kind); as well as evaluate the costs of off-loading, transport and storage (or utilization) of CO2 in several CCUS chains;
Evaluate the impact of SBCC on the ships’ infrastructure, stability and safety, to guarantee the technical feasibility of the proposed technology; identify the major safety hazards associated with SBCC technology and determine safeguards to mitigate those risks, thus providing the basis for (near) future class approval of the SBCC technology;
Develop off-loading strategies that clarify the post-treatment required on-board, as well as the infrastructure necessary on the port side; establish a CO2 Shipping Interoperability Industry Group (CSIIG) and propose a Roadmap towards a European off-loading network
The project is divided into six work-packages:
WP1: Demonstration of SBCC
WP2: Full CCUS chain integration
WP3: Impact of full scale SBCC on existing ships infrastructure
WP4: Life cycle assessment and techno-economic evaluation of SBCC
WP5: Regulatory framework for SBCC
WP6: Management and Dissemination
LOUISE
Project title
Low-Cost CO2 Capture by Chemical Looping Combustion of Waste-Derived Fuels
Project coordinator
Technical University of Darmstad
Project leader
Jochen Ströhle
Project period
Autumn 2021 – autumn 2024
Support from ACT
€ 1.9 M
Website
Summary
The aim of the LOUISE project is to prepare for pre-commercial demonstration of Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) for CO2 capture from waste-to-energy (WtE). CLC is an innovative, highly efficient combustion process for generation of power and heat providing a concentrated stream of CO2. A net electrical efficiency above 35 % and CO2 avoidance costs below 25 €/t can be expected for CLC of waste-derived fuels, which is a significant improvement compared to first generation CO2 capture technologies. The potential impact of enabling CLC for WtE is large, especially in urban areas where WtE plants are a major source of CO2. A main advantage of the CLC concept is the separation of the heat production from the release of problematic substances. This allows for higher steam temperatures and electrical efficiency, even for more low-quality fuels, such as waste. CLC of coal and biomass has been validated at 1 MWth scale by TU Darmstadt, but no results for CLC with waste-derived fuels are available so far. However, the Norwegian CLIMIT-project "CLCSRF" will perform first pilot tests at 150 kWth scale. Since some of the same partners are involved, results of this project will be used as basis for the LOUISE project. The LOUISE project will:
Demonstrate CLC of solid waste-derived fuels in a realistic environment with pilot tests at 150 kWth and 1 MWth scale (TRL 6) using ilmenite as the oxygen carrier due to its known favorable properties
Elaborate the basic design and cost estimation of a 10 MWth demonstration unit (TRL 7).
Validate new oxygen carriers from Turkish ore and industrial by-product; investigate the interaction of oxygen carriers with impurities in the waste-derived fuels
Develop concepts for utilizing spent oxygen carrier from CLC in metal production processes
Determine the environmental impact of CLC waste-to-energy plants using life-cycle assessment methodology
Develop business cases of commercial CLC plants firing waste-derived fuels on existing sites of the industrial partners in the four participating countries (Germany, Norway, Greece, Turkey)
Investigate the potential for CO2 delivery from CLC WtE plants for permanent storage at Northern Lights (Longship) and/or CO2 utilisation
The consortium in LOUISE consists of Europe's leading higher-TRL R&I actors within this field, including partners (in Germany and Norway) operating two of the largest CLC pilots worldwide, complemented by specialists in fluidized bed technology, material characterization and LCA analysis (from Greece, Turkey and Norway). Above all, large industrial technology providers and end-users are actively involved, enabling a fast transfer of the results towards commercialization of the technology
NEXTCCUS
Project title
Next Generation Electrochemical System For Sustainable Direct CO2 Capture and Utilization/Storage as Clean Solar Fuel
Project coordinator
IRITALY Trading Company Srl
Project leader
Mahmoud Zendehdel
Project period
Autumn 2021 – autumn 2024
Support from ACT
€ 1.8 M
Website
Summary
Overarching aim: Towards a sustainable energy technology with negative carbon footprint to produce methanol at SATP conditions by developing and scale-up an innovative electrochemical system in order to enable sustainable CO2 capture, direct conversion and storage as liquid fuel.
Objective 1: Realization of a system for sustainable CO2 capture and direct reduction to methanol working at SATP conditions.
Objective 2: To demonstrate cost effectiveness of the technology by developing volume manufacturing.
Objective 3: Reducing the emission of carbon intensive industries with a sustainable CO2-based circular economy solution.
Objective 4: Reducing the environmental and energy impacts of the system.
Objective 5: To demonstrate a feasible road-map toward commercialization.
RETURN
Project title
Reusing depleted oil and gas fields for CO2 sequestration
Project coordinator
SINTEF AS
Project leader
Malin Torsæter / Pierre Cerasi
Project period
Autumn 2021 – autumn 2024
Support from ACT
€ 4.2 M
Website
Summary
The RETURN project consortium, which was initiated by industry, consists of leading R&D providers in collaboration with several major oil and gas operator companies. The project focuses on unlocking the potential for CO2 storage in depleted oil and gas reservoirs. These sites are promising, as they are well characterized from previous oil and gas activities, and they have large pressure margins for safe storage. There are, however, some technical challenges related to storage in such sites. The low pressure in the depleted reservoirs results in strong cooling and potential freezing of the well and near-well region due to the Joule-Thomson effect and associated phase changes of the CO2. This jeopardizes not only injectivity, but also near-well stability and well integrity. Large depletion can be accompanied by strong stress concentration and hysteresis effect upon re-pressurisation, added to the development of thermal stress. Today's available solutions include heating of the CO2 and gas phase injection (dictating a high number of injectors). This is both expensive and emission-intensive. Novel solutions are thus required, which will be searched for and researched in the RETURN project, and which will ultimately enable safe and cost-efficient re-use of depleted reservoirs for long-term CO2 storage. The targeted research required to reach this goal is addressed in three main scientific work packages focusing on: (i) Coupled well-reservoir flow modelling, (ii) Near wellbore processes, and (iii) Wellbore integrity. The work, comprising both experiments, numerical modelling and larger scale field tests, will focus on understanding how CO2 flows down the well and into the depleted reservoir, and identifying safe operational windows both with respect to the near-well region and wellbores. The output of the project will be several scientific publications, as well as a handbook for industry with input for front-end engineering.
The RETURN project will be divided into 6 work-packages (each work-package in the hereinafter referred to as "WP"):
WP1 - Project management and coordination. This WP aims to coordinate the work involved in the RETURN project, including: • Project management with respect to financial and contractual obligations. • Ensuring involvement/participation of all project partners. • Support WP leads in ensuring fulfilment of project objectives, deliverables and milestones. • Evaluating project progress and implement corrective actions if needed. • Assure timely completion of milestones and submission of deliverables.
WP2 - Coupled well-reservoir flow modelling. The objective of WP2 is to develop a detailed understanding of CO2 phase behaviour and flow along the whole pipeline-well-reservoir system and to establish mature, validated numerical simulation capabilities for the non-isothermal flow of CO2 during injection into depleted reservoirs, both under steady state and transient conditions.
WP3 - Near wellbore processes. This WP aims to advance the quantitative understanding of the effects of (i) depletion and re-inflation, (ii) pressure and temperature cycling, including at sub-zero temperatures, and (iii) hydrate formation and other near-wellbore processes specific to depleted reservoirs on rock mechanical behaviour and associated transport properties, and establish mature and verified numerical simulation capabilities for near-wellbore integrity assessment, considering poro-thermo-elastic-plastic effects and thermo-hydraulic fracturing.
WP4 - Wellbore integrity. The WP aims to perform experiments and modelling to determine the safe operational windows for CO2 injection into depleted reservoirs without jeopardizing well integrity and subsurface isolation, even in case of strong pressure/temperature cycling or low temperatures.
WP5 - Enabling 'cold CO2 injection' into depleted reservoirs. This WP fulfils two main objectives: (i) Coordination of WPs 2-4 to ensure a targeted working process and progress and (ii) The delivery of a compilation of practical recommendations for safe and cost efficient CO2 injections into depleted reservoirs. An essential part of this activity are yearly industry workshops. The workshops will provide direction and input to the technical work in WP2-4 and enable the exchange of expectations, knowledge and data between the operators and researchers for a proper design of case studies and application scenarios.
WP6 - Outreach and dissemination. WP6 aims to ensure an effective communication within the consortium, including associated partners, and to disseminate project information and results. The WP will ensure that relevant findings are shared within and outside the CCUS community using modern and accessible methods.
SCOPE
Project title
SCOPE - Sustainable OPEration of post-combustion Capture plants
Project coordinator
SINTEF AS
Project leader
Hanne Marie Kvamsdal
Project period
Autumn 2021 – autumn 2024
Support from ACT
€ 3.7 M
Website
Summary
By addressing and closing critical knowledge gaps along the entire flow path for the exhaust gas that is being purified, this project will contribute to an accelerated decarbonisation of the industry.
Amine-based chemical absorption is the leading technology for capturing and removing CO2 from certain industrial processes, such as those used in cement, metallurgical and steel industries as well as waste incineration and power plants. Although amine-based technology is not new, early adopters have struggled to secure emission permits due to the lack of data on amine emissions and lack of well-defined regulatory procedures for documenting and modelling amine emissions. As a result, the overall environmental impacts of using amine-based chemical absorption to mitigate industrial emissions over time are not well understood, which hinders the rapid commercialisation of amine-based technologies.
SCOPE aims to remove barriers to CCUS deployment and accelerate large CO2 capture projects by giving plant operators, regulators and decision makers access to the tools and data that are essential for improving our understanding of amine-based CO2 capture. The project will build new links between diverse stakeholders and facilitate the exchange of knowledge on technical and regulatory developments through interdisciplinary research and collaboration and the creation of the SCOPE "Stakeholder, Policy, Research and Industry Network" (SPRINT), which will hold thematic seminars for external stakeholders.
The overall goal of SCOPE is to support the development of technology for emission control and enable the harmonization of regulations for amine-based CO2 capture facilities. It will do this through the:
Development of effective online monitoring systems and emission control guidelines;
Validatation of predicted amine emissions from solvents against data generated in the project through test campaigns at 6 different pilot plants;
Effective utilization of knowledge about environmental hazards in risk assessment of amine-based CO2 capture plants; and
Identification of societal concerns, policies and practices that may affect the credibility industrial decarbonisation using amine-based CO2 capture in different countries.
The three-year project is being carried out by an international consortium consisting of scientific, technological and political experts and stakeholders in Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, India and the United States. The SCOPE project is divided into 5 work-packages as listed in the following table together with a figure showing the interactions between the WPs.
The SCOPE project is divided into five work-packages:
Effective emission management tools for large scale deployment
Demonstration of emission management technologies at capture pilot plants
Environmental quality standards, impacts and risk assessment
Mapping state support, market readiness and civil society concerns to promote the legitimacy of amine-based CCUS
Project management, dissemination, and exploitation
WP1 is led by TNO (The Netherlands), WP2 is led by RWE (Germany), WP3 is led by IMPERIAL College (UK), WP4 is led by University of Sussex (UK), and WP5 is led by the coordinator SINTEF (Norway). Together with NETL (national project contact partner for USA), Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (national project contact partner for India), and Microfilt India, the WP-leaders constitute the project management team (PMT).
SHARP
Project title
SHARP Storage - Stress history and reservoir pressure for improved quantification of CO2 storage containment risks
Project coordinator
NGI - Norwegian Geotechnical Institute
Project leader
Elin Skurtveit
Project period
Autumn 2021 – autumn 2024
Support from ACT
€ 3.8 M
Website
Summary
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is now maturing in Europe and worldwide with several Net Zero projects emerging. Hence, the need for safe and reliable CO2 storage sites is accelerating and the reliable assessment of large-scale storage options at the gigatonne-per-year scale is critical. The SHARP project addresses three Priority Research Directions identified in the Mission Innovation Report required to improve current technologies to deliver CO2 storage volumes at the scale needed to meet demands for large scale storage.
The geomechanical response to CO2 injection is one of the key uncertainties in assessing proposed storage sites. The SHARP project aims to reduce this uncertainty with the ambitious goal of improving the accuracy of subsurface CO2 storage containment risk management to a level acceptable to both commercial and regulatory interests. The project will be delivered through a multidisciplinary, trans-national consortium of 16 partners and 5 countries. The development and integration of models for subsurface stress, rock mechanical failure and seismicity will mature the technology for quantification of subsurface deformation, thereby leading to cost-efficient CO2 subsurface risk monitoring and management. Key activities for the project include to: develop basin-scale geomechanical models that incorporate tectonic and deglaciation effects, and use newly developed constitutive models of rock/sediment deformation (WP1); improve knowledge of the present-day stress field in the North Sea from integrated earthquake catalogues and a comprehensive database of earthquake focal mechanisms (WP2); quantify rock strain and identify failure attributes suitable for monitoring and risk assessment using experimental data (WP3); develop more intelligent methods for in situ monitoring of rock strain and failure, and fluid pressure and movement (WP4); quantify containment risk using geomechanical models and observations from the field and laboratory (WP5); communicate technology development on containment risk to industry and regulators (WP6).
The SHARP project is expected to accelerate the maturation of six case studies from sites in the North Sea and India. SHARP will help to scale up the following saline aquifer prospects: the Northern Lights CO2 storage project in the Horda area (N); emerging storage prospects in the Greater Bunter Sandstone area, which encompass the Endurance site (UK); the Hanstholm structure (DK). These North Sea projects will benefit from transferring knowledge from pioneering and more mature work in the Horda area. Furthermore, application to wellcharacterised offshore depleted oil and gas fields, like Nini (DK) and Aramis (NL), will accelerate their transformation into viable and safe CO2 storage sites. India has high focus on emission reduction using CCUS and an onshore case study will be matured using learning elements from across Europe to kick-start CO2 injection and storage projects in India.
Integrated involvement from international CO2 storage operators in the consortium will ensure that the SHARP project will have a high impact on CCS development in Europe and globally. New technology for quantification of subsurface deformation and cost-efficient CO2 subsurface risk management will provide effective tools for containment risk assessment. Strategies for monitoring deformation and induced seismicity will be communicated to storage site operators and regulators to increase confidence in storage safety and assessing seismicity risks. The SHARP integrated seismic catalogue and rock properties database will facilitate access to critical data for containment risk analysis, supporting upscaling of existing project as well as maturing new areas. This work is in line with the EU SET plan activity of unlocking European storage capacity, and the CLIMIT priority on Large-scale storage of CO2 on the Norwegian shelf in the North Sea, as well as other national priority areas.
