Norway Launches $59M Research Program for CO2 Capture
14 August 2008
Norway has launched a NOK 317-million (US$59 million) research and development program to develop more cost-effective technology for CO2 capture. The project is one of the biggest of its kind to date.
SINTEF, the independent research organization, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology and Aker Clean Carbon signed an agreement for an eight-year science and development programme called SOLVit.
Aker Clean Carbon and SINTEF have together developed many capture solutions based on amines. One of these solutions is already ready to use. Phase one of SOLVit, which runs until the end of 2010, will be used to test the other amine solutions under development by Aker Clean Carbon and SINTEF.
In phase two and three of SOLVit, the parties will try to introduce new chemical solutions and elements to the process in order to generate cost cuts. The aim is to come up with a process facility for CO2-capture that can operate on half the energy consumption of today’s processes.
The program includes building a new laboratory at Tiller in Trondheim, which will cost NOK 42 million. SINTEF will provide NOK 25 million of the equity for the new laboratory, which will be situated next door to SINTEF’s multi-phase laboratory.
The lab will be a test center for pilot projects, including a 30 meter tall tower and processing column that reached 25 meters high—identical to the height needed in full-scale industrial facilities. The lab will also be available for SINTEF’s domestic and international customers and partners.
The SOLVit program will also involve the testing of chemicals and processes in a mobile capture facility, which has been developed by Aker Clean Carbon and is currently being built at Aker Verdal. The mobile facility is large enough to process parts of emissions from power stations and industrial sites in periods of several months at the time.
Appropriate for Norway which has the world's largest petroleum trust - some $300 billion.
Posted by: Sulleny | 14 August 2008 at 03:41 PM
It is nice that amines are again being used to capture CO2. At one time they were used to get CO2 to make dry ice from boilers fueled by coke.
Norway should instead build a reverse fuel cell that takes CO2 and water and electricity and produces methanol. This methanol would be considered carbon free if the electricity were hydro. CO2 and hydrogen can be fed to organisms to make ethanol.
Nuclear power plants should be built in Norway to produce hydrogen for carbon capture. Power can now be sent to Denmark and Germany when the wind does not blow. It is also sent to Holland almost all the time.
Norway is one of the largest producers of carbon fuels in the world. Perhaps the green house gas taxes should be put on the producers of carbon fuels and not the users.
With hydro and nuclear power Norway could become the largest producer of hydrogen for carbon neutral methanol and ethanol. Nuclear hydrogen can be very cheap. Thermo-chemical production is more possible if Norway bought a Chinese pebble bed reactor. Perhaps ammonia should be made from the hydrogen if there is not enough CO2. Ammonia is a good hydrogen carrier, but not as good as carbon. Urea could be made from CO2 and ammonia. ..HG..
Posted by: Henry Gibson | 14 August 2008 at 10:48 PM