Challenges
Vattenfall's project on CCS faces several challenges in developing commercial concepts for capture and storage of carbon dioxide at power plants. Technologies for capture and geological storage already exist today. However, since these techniques are mainly applied on a smaller scale and for other purposes, there is a need to demonstrate that these technologies can be applied on a large scale for use at power plants.
Vattenfall's project on CCS covers R&D over the entire chain of capturing, transporting and storing carbon dioxide.
Capture
There are three main technology options to capture carbon dioxide at power plants. Vattenfall is involved in research on all three but regards the oxyfuel concept as the most promising one. All three options need to meet the challenges of reducing the increased energy demand from the capture process and equipment investment costs. Our research efforts on capture technology focuses on:
- Developing and evaluating different capture technologies
- Cost reduction to reach the target EUR 20 per tonne carbon dioxide
Transport
Today, carbon dioxide is transported over long distances in the US. Infrastructure for transporting carbon dioxide also exists in Europe, however, in a smaller scale and for industrial purposes. Our research on carbon dioxide transport focuses on:
- Applying known concepts to power plants and to a larger scale
Storage
Vattenfall is currently identifying, quantifying and evaluating suitable storage sites. Estimates indicate that Europe has more capacity than required to store carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants. Vattenfall focuses on three R&D topics regarding geological storage:
- Verification of technology and potential
- Elimination of risks
- Safeguarding safety and environment
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