Aker Solutions to provide plant for CO2 capture and liquefaction
Twence aims to capture CO2 on a large scale from the flue gases produced by the Energy from Waste (EfW) plant and make it suitable for beneficial use. This CO2 will then no longer be emitted directly into the atmosphere, but reused. Norwegian Aker Solutions has won the tender for this innovative and extensive project and will supply the plant for the CO2 capture and liquefaction process. The contracts for this project have recently been signed.
Aker Solutions has been developing technology for the capture, utilisation and permanent storage of CO2 since 1996. They have earned a good reputation in this field, particularly in the Norwegian off-shore and cement industries. The technology offered to Twence has been verified for the energy from waste sector and is ready for the market
‘Twence’s confidence in us proves that we are producing an attractive solution for the market,’ says Luis Araujo, CEO of Aker Solutions. ‘We have focused on cutting costs and simplifying CCUS technology. Our goal is to make carbon capture accessible and affordable.’ ‘CO2 capture and reuse are an inevitable step towards achieving climate goals and limiting climate change. Energy from waste companies could play a leading role in that,’ says Marc Kapteijn, Director of Twence. ‘We are happy to have such a reputable partner in this field provide us with an integral part of the solution.’
The intention is to capture 100,000 tons of CO2 annually from spring 2021. The captured and liquefied CO2 will be transported to customers by tankers. There is an increasing demand for CO2 for various beneficial applications. CO2 is already immediately applicable as ‘fertilisation’ in greenhouse horticulture, which means that this sector can switch to clean energy sources. Currently, greenhouse growers are still using CO2 that is released when they burn natural gas in their greenhouse boilers. If they can buy CO2 from external sources, they can then switch to renewable energy sources, such as geothermal energy.
In the longer term, CO2 recovery offers interesting opportunities for recovering carbon and using it as a basic raw material for the chemical industry. This industry is also looking for sustainable alternatives for oil and natural gas and there is a need for effective storage of renewable energy (solar and wind energy). CO2, in combination with hydrogen, offers possibilities in this respect. In addition, there are various known applications, such as the use of liquid CO2 as a coolant in the transport of perishable goods, or the application of CO2 in the packaging of vegetables.