CETO: Pioneering low-pressure CO2 shipping
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is vital for combating climate change. Efficient CO2 transport is key. For large CCS projects, low-pressure ship transport (7 bar at -49 ºC) is preferred to optimize capacity and reduce costs.
In the race against climate change, carbon capture and storage is emerging as a vital technology. To significantly reduce global emissions, we need efficient methods for transporting large amounts of CO2. While pipelines are a viable option, they aren’t always feasible when capture sources and storage sites are far apart. This is where ship transport comes into play.
For most CCS projects requiring cargo volumes over 20,000 m³, a low-pressure ship transport chain (7 bar at -49 ºC) is preferred. Why? Because lowering the pressure increases the cargo capacity and optimizes ship design, leading to potentially lower transportation costs. This makes the whole process more efficient and economically viable.
The low-pressure challenges and solutions
Shifting to a low-pressure solution isn't without its challenges. Lowering the design temperature and reducing the margin to the CO2 triple point introduces significant design and operational complexities. These changes impact the entire value chain and bring about techno-economic consequences related to the conditioning of the CO2 stream.
The bigger picture: Beyond emissions reduction
Simply reducing greenhouse gas emissions won’t be enough to meet global climate goals. By 2050, we need to achieve negative global carbon emissions to stay within the 1.5°C target. CCS is key to this strategy, especially for hard-to-abate sectors that struggle to reduce CO2 emissions. Moreover, CCS can facilitate carbon capture from biogenic fuel usage, leading to negative emissions—a crucial factor in our fight against climate change.
The CETO initiative
Fundamental aspects of a low-pressure CO2 ship transport value chain were explored in the CETO (CO2 Efficient Transport via Ocean) JIP; a joint effort between Equinor, GASSCO, Shell, TotalEnergies and DNV and supported by the CLIMIT-Demo programme.
Through rigorous technology qualification, CETO has demonstrated that shipping CO2 at low-pressure conditions is not only feasible but also ready for initial deployment. However, it has also highlighted technological elements that require early attention in project-specific development.
Join the discussion at ONS 2024
We’re excited to share the key activities and learnings from the CETO initiative at the ONS 2024 Technical Session CCUS 1 on Wednesday, 28 August. Our session will provide valuable insights into the future of CO2 transport and the pivotal role it plays in CCS.
Join us in exploring how we can make a significant impact on reducing global emissions through innovative CO2 transport solutions. Together, we can pave the way to a more sustainable future.
8/23/2024 7:08:00 AM