Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is at the heart of global efforts to mitigate climate change, offering a way to reduce hard-to-abate industrial CO2 emissions. CO2 capture and transportation, the initial two steps in the CCUS value chain, present their own unique challenges.
A key factor influencing the capture cost is the concentration of CO2 in emissions. As it directly affects the energy and resources required for the capture process. When emissions contain a high concentration of CO₂, less energy is needed to separate it from other gases, making the capture process simpler and more cost-effective. Conversely, in emissions with lower CO₂ concentrations, the CO₂ is often mixed with other gases in smaller proportions, requiring more intensive separation methods. These methods demand additional energy and specialised equipment, thus driving up costs. In other words, high CO₂ concentration industrial sources are significantly more cost-effective for CCUS projects.
For example, natural gas processing and ammonia production typically generate high CO₂ concentrations, making them more economical for CO₂ capture. In contrast, industries like power generation, cement production, and steel manufacturing generally have lower CO₂ concentrations in their flue gases, requiring more energy-intensive and costly capture processes[1].
Different capture technologies, such as post-combustion, pre-combustion, and oxy-fuel combustion, each have specific applications depending on the industrial process[2]. Post-combustion capture, for instance, involves removing CO2 from flue gases after combustion, making it suitable for retrofitting existing power plants. Pre-combustion capture, by contrast, is more suited to new-build power stations where CO2 can be removed before the combustion process.
Oxy-fuel combustion is a technique where fuel is burned in a nearly pure oxygen environment rather than regular air[4]. This process generates flue gases that are predominantly CO2 and water vapour, making CO2 separation much easier and more efficient. Since nitrogen is absent in the combustion process, there is a significant reduction in pollutants and fewer by-products, creating a more concentrated CO2 stream that lowers capture costs. This method is particularly useful in industries where high CO2 purity is required for storage or further applications, making oxy-fuel combustion a promising choice for new-build power plants focused on CCUS.
Once captured, CO2 often undergoes a liquefaction process to facilitate its transport to storage sites[5]. This liquefaction process involves cooling and compressing the CO2 to convert it into a liquid state, significantly reducing its volume for easier and more cost-effective transportation. Pipelines or specially designed ships then transport this liquefied CO2. Liquefaction is particularly advantageous for long-distance transport as it allows larger volumes of CO2 to be moved efficiently.
Once liquified, CO2 must be transported to a storage site or used for other applications like enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Pipelines are generally the preferred method, offering a cost-effective and scalable solution for moving large volumes of CO2 over long distances. However, for much longer distances, or where land is not available, CO2 transportation via ships is an alternative option. Transport of CO2 by truck and rail is also possible for small volumes.
To ensure pipeline integrity and detect leaks, advanced methods like fibre-optic sensing, ultrasonic sensors, and drones equipped with gas-detection sensors are commonly employed. Fibre-optic sensing allows for real-time monitoring of pipeline conditions along the entire route, while ultrasonic sensors can detect pressure changes associated with leaks. Drones provide aerial surveillance, especially in remote or difficult-to-access areas, adding an additional layer of security. For CO2 transport by truck and ship, dedicated monitoring systems track temperature, pressure, and structural integrity, ensuring safety and compliance with regulatory standards throughout transit.
The design and optimisation of the CO2 transport infrastructure requires detailed technical planning, especially since safety and reliability are primary concerns due to the hazards posed by high pressures and concentrations. Effective monitoring is crucial for detecting anomalies and maintaining the pipeline’s integrity, while leakage risk poses significant environmental and health threats. To mitigate these risks, it is essential to implement robust containment measures and contingency plans.
CO2 capture and transport are critical components of the CCUS value chain, each with its own technical and economic challenges. Ensuring efficient and cost-effective transportation of CO2 is key to the success of CCUS projects.
Ad Terra Consultancy’s Capture and Transportation Expertise
Ad Terra Consultancy provides expertise in both capture and transport solutions, allowing clients to navigate these challenges with confidence, supporting the deployment of CCUS technologies across a range of industries and geographies.
Our company has recently assisted a client in optimising an amine-based CO2 capture unit, significantly improving its performance. The optimised system not only increased the volume of CO2 captured but also reduced operational costs, demonstrating the financial benefits of effective design and optimisation.
Ad Terra’s Consultancy team also helped a client in Europe identify the optimal pipeline route to storage locations, carefully balancing cost, environmental, and regulatory considerations.
In another project in the Middle East, our team worked on the transportation and compression of CO2, providing tailored solutions to ensure safe and efficient transport.
About this article series
This article series highlights the role of Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) in mitigating climate change and supporting the global energy transition. Each step of the process is examined, from CO2 capture technologies, transport challenges, utilisation opportunities, and geological storage options through caprock integrity considerations, operations monitoring and safety to commercialisation schemes. This series provides insights into how CCUS technologies can contribute to a sustainable future.
About Raeid Jewad
Raeid Jewad, a seasoned energy expert, brings over 20 years of international experience across technical, commercial, and strategic roles within the energy industry. He specialises in carbon management, with particular expertise in CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage) commercial and regulatory frameworks, as well as hydrogen and carbon markets. Raeid is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, contributing to their Carbon Management Programme, and previously served as a Senior Policy Advisor in Energy for the UK Government. His academic credentials include a PhD in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Cambridge, further underscoring his technical expertise in advancing sustainable energy solutions.
[1] International Energy Agency (IEA). Levelised cost of CO2 capture by sector and initial CO2 concentration, 2019. www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/charts/levelised-cost-of-co2-capture-by-sector-and-initial-co2-concentration-2019
[2] UN Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN) & UN Environment Programme. CO2 capture technologies. www.ctc-n.org/technologies/co2-capture-technologies
[3] Gonzalez Diaz, Abigail. Sequential supplementary firing in natural gas combined cycle plants with carbon capture for enhanced oil recovery, 2016. www.researchgate.net/figure/Schematics-of-CO2-capture-technologies-for-power-plants-Leung-et-al-2014-IPCC-2010_fig1_317291238
[4] US Department of Energy & National Energy Technology Lab. Oxy-Combustion. netl.doe.gov/node/7477
[5] SINTEF & Norwegian Institute of Technology. Better understanding of CO₂ liquefaction (Towards identifying optimal transport conditions for ship-based CCS). blog.sintef.com/sintefenergy/co2-liquefaction-transport-conditions-ship-based-ccs/
Decoding CCUS Infographic
