Carbon Capture and Utilisation, Demonstration: selected projects phase 2 and 3a
Updated 31 July 2019
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Fuel Cell Biogenic Carbon Capture Demonstration (Phase 2)
Led by Drax
Drax Group will explore the feasibility of using molten carbonate fuel cells as a technology for capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from one of its biomass generating units. The technology is based on the FuelCell Energy’s proprietary carbonate fuel cell power plants, which are able to concentrate CO2 from dilute flue gas streams as a side reaction during power generation. The ability to co-produce valuable electricity during carbon capture gives the technology a potential advantage over solvent-based systems, which consume heat and electricity in order to operate. Once captured, the CO2 will be transported to P3P’s Glasshouse site which is located next to the power station, to help improve its greenhouse yields. The FEED study is based on a 1.7 MW net fuel cell system capturing 85 tonnes CO2 per day. Within the study Drax and FuelCell Energy are also investigating how the technology could be scaled up to capture CO2 emissions from a single Drax unit. This would equate to c.4 million tonnes of CO2 captured and add an additional c.220 MW electrical capacity to the station.
Scaling up technology to produce zero-carbon lime and remove CO2 from the air (Phase 2)
Led by Origen Power
This project is developing a novel process to produce zero-carbon lime. Conventionally, the production of lime results in large amounts of carbon dioxide emissions. Origen’s technology allows all of the carbon dioxide associated with lime production to be produced as a pure gas. This allows the CO2 to be used as a feedstock or stored away underground at low cost. The lime produced, in use, will remove CO2 from the air. If the CO2 is stored away underground then overall the process is carbon-negative - there is less CO2 in the air at the end of the process than there was at the outset. This project is assessing the costs of developing a plant that could remove 50,000 tonnes of CO2 per year - and the process could be scaled so that a single plant could remove half a million tonnes of CO2 per year.
Carbon Capture and Utilisation Demonstration (Phase 3a)
Led by Tata Chemicals Europe
When operational in 2021 the Winnington CCU plant will be largest carbon capture and utilisation plant in the UK. CO2 from the Winnington gas-fired CHP plant will be captured and used as a key raw material for the manufacturing of sodium bicarbonate. The importance of the project to the company is to provide a secure and cost-effective supply of high purity CO2 needed to produce the highest purity grades of sodium bicarbonate which is used in applications such as pharmaceuticals, haemodialysis and food primarily for exports around the world. Successful demonstration of the CCU plant is critical for Tata Chemicals Europe to increase its manufacturing capacity to further grow its export business, and if successful, would look to expand carbon capture operations.