Building a CO2 infrastructure

Henderson says that estimates are that that global CCS capacity must increase 120 times from current levels by 2050, rising to at least 4.2 gigatonnes per annum, for countries to achieve their net-zero commitments. He comments: “Whilst pipelines will generally offer a more cost-efficient option where there is sufficient scale and regularity of supply of CO2, carriage by sea is more appropriate for longer distance transport (over approximately 350km), flexibility of quantity, source and injection locations. Estimates of global offshore storage capacity range from 2,000 to 13,000 gigatonnes of CO2. Regions such as Korea, Japan and the North Sea, which have subsea storage locations and coastal-based emissions, are likely to be suitable for seaborne carriage of CO2. If onboard carbon capture is widely adopted, this will require carriage by sea from temporary port-based to permanent storage locations.”

As noted by Gard, one of the leading CCS schemes is the Norwegian government-sponsored Longship project. This includes capturing CO2 from industrial sources in the Oslo-fjord region (from cement, chemicals and energy) and shipping liquid CO2 from these industrial capture sites to an onshore terminal. From there, the CO2 will be transported by pipeline to an offshore subsea storage location in the North Sea. It has recently signed contracts to receive about 1.2 million tonnes CO2 annually from the Netherlands (Yara Sluiskil) and Denmark (Orsted power stations). Northern Lights is responsible for developing and operating the CO2 transport and storage facilities for the project. Phase one is due to be operational in 2024 with an annual storage capacity of up to 1.5 million tonnes of CO2. 

So, it is clear that infrastructure based on the permanent underground storage of CO2 is being put together. However, it is possible that a portion of recovered CO2 could be used in production processes.

A new report, Carbon Dioxide Utilization 2024-2044: Technologies, Market Forecasts, and Players, from IDTechEx predicts that, by 2044, utilisation of waste CO2 will reach 800 tonnes to create over 3,000 tonnes of useful products.

The research and consultancy firm says CO2-derived building materials and CO2-derived fuels represent the areas with high growth potential. It says carbon dioxide utilisation (CO2U) in building materials is the more straightforward technology, able to lower the carbon footprint of ready-mixed concrete, pre-cast concrete, and carbonate aggregates/supplementary cementitious materials through mineralisation reactions. Carbon dioxide can be permanently stored, and cement use can be reduced. Growth, IDTechEx  predicts, will be driven by new certifications, superior materials performance, and the ability to achieve price parity through waste disposal fees.

Compared to the gigatonnes of CO2 that are expected to be captured in 20 years’ time, the figures quoted by IDTechEx can appear insignificant. However, it says: “Revenue generated through CO2U over the next two decades will be vital to enabling the development of commercially viable CO2 capture technologies for the future. In combination, carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies are critical in supporting the decarbonization of the world’s economy as countries strive to reach net zero goals.”

The fleet that will carry captured CO2 to permanent storage sites, or for industrial uses, is beginning to emerge. LR has announced it is to class its first newbuild project for mid-size low pressure ammonia-ready liquid CO2 (LCO2) carriers ordered by Capital Gas Ship Management at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard

LR says the project follows a collaboration between Capital, HMD, and LR, paving the way for further orders of LCO2 carriers, which it describes as “a crucial component to supporting the wider carbon capture and storage value chain”.

Image Credit: 1PointFive