Decarbonisation Technology - August 2023 Issue

Unlocking the full potential of UK carbon capture and storage

Overcoming challenges to enable rapid growth in carbon capture and storage

Nigel Greatorex ABB Energy Industries

C limate change is arguably the most pressing challenge facing humanity, so it stands to reason that solving it requires concerted global action from industry, government, and wider society. There is no silver bullet to the global warming crisis; instead, limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement requires a mix of innovative technologies, investment, and legislation. It is fair to say that, in terms of its efficacy on an industrial scale, the full potential of carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a solution has not yet been fully realised (National Grid, 2023). The process of capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from industrial processes, or the burning of hydrocarbon in power generation, and

transporting it via ship or pipeline before storing it underground needs investment and support to become financially viable and able to scale. The lack of operational and design experience is a major hurdle to mainstream adoption. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), planned CCS facilities are growing rapidly on a global scale, yet they still represent only around 20% of what is required for the world to reach net zero by 2050 (IEA, 2022). According to analysis from McKinsey & Company, for countries to achieve their net- zero commitments, uptake by industry needs to grow 120-fold by 2050 (McKinsey & Co, 2022). If successful, CCS alone could be responsible for reducing CO₂ emissions from the industrial sector by 45%.

Shipping

Oshore CO stream injection platform

Sub-seabed casing & storage

Oshore CO stream transportation

Onshore CO stream transportation

CO stream liquifaction & temporary storage

CO stream booster compressor/pump

Biomass conversion Energy crop Waste

Blue hydrogen production

Industrial sources of CO

Power generation

CO stream capture, compression/pump & conditioning

An example of a hub cluster project for CCS