Vattenfall - Transport of CO2

Transport of CO₂

Infrastructure for transporting CO₂ is the key component that ties capturing carbon dioxide at power plants with storing CO₂ at suitable sites.

A large-scale CO₂ capture and storage system has to handle CO₂ from several power plants. A single 1,800 MW lignite power plant produces around 10 million tonnes of CO₂ each year.

For transporting the large amounts of CO₂ produced in power plants, pipelines and ships are the most attractive options.

Pipelines

Large volumes of CO₂ are already transported over long distances in high-pressure pipelines in the US. The pipelines extend over 2,500 km and the transported CO₂ is used to enhance oil production in mature oil fields.

Shipping

CO₂ can also be transported by ship. Existing technology and experience from transporting petroleum gas and natural gas can be transferred to CO₂ transport.