Not just less, but zero: Industrial roadmap to Europe’s net-zero carbon future
Since its launch in 2021, the EU-funded ConsenCUS project has been developing electricity-based innovations for capturing CO2, converting it into useful chemicals and/or storing it. The goal is to make true net-zero carbon technologies widely available in industry. To make this happen, the project is demonstrating its concept in three major European industries: a cement production site in Denmark, an oil refinery in Romania and a magnesite production site in Greece. The Danish electrochemical CO2 capture and conversion demo plant was opened in November 2023 at the cement factory of ConsenCUS project partner Aalborg Portland. The plant is designed to capture up to 100 kg of CO2 per hour and convert it into formate or formic acid, two chemicals extensively used in industry, using renewable electricity. This is achieved through two units: an electrochemical capture and regeneration unit where CO2 is separated from industrial flue gases and a second unit where it is converted into formate and formic acid. Using renewable electricity helps reduce the carbon footprint of the capture and conversion processes. In March 2024, the demo plant succeeded in capturing its first CO2, marking a major milestone for the project. “The custom-made electrochemical ‘stacks’ being demonstrated have not been used on this scale for this application before. It is ‘cold CO2 capture’ and that is just the beginning,” reports a news item on the ConsenCUS website. Another article posted on ‘Innovation News Network’ reports: “This monumental achievement shows that this technology is not only viable, but also has the potential to be scaled up.”
On to Romania and Greece
As researchers continue to optimise the process at the Danish plant, the project will go on to gather more test results from the concept’s application at its two industries in Greece and Romania. These are committed to using techniques that can capture hard-to-abate carbon emissions. The Romanian tests will be conducted at the Petrobrazi oil refinery site of project partner OMV Petrom over a period of 4 months, starting in June 2024. After Romania, the technology will be tested at the magnesium production site operated by Grecian Magnesite in Yerakini, Greece. ConsenCUS is also addressing the modelling of CO2 storage in underground reservoirs. The objective is to find out whether certain types of rock may be suitable for permanent or temporary CO2 storage if needed in the future.
Engaging the community
To gain insight into citizens’ views and concerns about carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) as a technology, ConsenCUS is holding a series of community engagement events in the three demo countries, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The hope is that the insights gained from these events will shed light on the social, economic and environmental impacts of CCUS on communities. The project’s first two events were held in Greece in 2022 and 2023, and its third in April 2024 in Romania. “The ConsenCUS project is in its final stages now, and with an active demonstration plant and developing policies, is confident that it can lead the way in CCUS technology and make the world a better place,” reports the article. ConsenCUS (CarbOn Neutral cluSters through Electricity-based iNnovations in Capture, Utilisation and Storage) ends in April 2025. For more information, please see: ConsenCUS project website
Keywords
ConsenCUS, carbon, CO2, carbon capture, CCUS, net zero, climate neutrality