CO2, the industrial challenges

Industrial challenges

The work carried out at IFP Energies nouvelles is contributing to the emergence of an industrial sector dedicated to CO₂ capture, transport and storage. Hence, Geogreen, a joint subsidiary with the BRGM and Géostock, proposes its expertise in project development and engineering in the field of CO₂ transport and geological storage to industry. In the longer term, it will propose services for the operation, control and maintenance of injection sites and the post-closure monitoring of storage sites.

In the field of CO₂ capture, the 1st-generation HiCapt+ process (postcombustion) developed by IFP Energies nouvelles is currently in the process of being validated, in collaboration with the electricity company Enel. The results obtained at the Brindisi pilot unit in 2011 have led to the optimization of the process.
At the same time, the legal framework essential for industrial development is being gradually implemented. European Directive 2009/31/EC of 23 April 2009 “on the geological storage of carbon dioxide” has been transposed into French law. IFP Energies nouvelleswas involved in the process of drafting the national application decrees, particularly with respect to storage safety. The sector's growth is nonetheless limited by the cost of the process (around €70 per ton of CO₂ avoided, almost 75% of which is for capture alone) and the absence of genuine incentives. Finally, social acceptance is also a key factor in the success of these technologies.

Working together

The extent of the technological and economic challenges that CO₂ capture & storage is facing makes it necessary to mutualize the efforts.

In France

IFP Energies nouvelles is involved in a number of projects funded by the ANR , the FUI and Ademe. These include the Acacia project (ANR/FUI), labeled by the Axelera competitiveness cluster, which is studying innovative CO₂ capture processes; the Gascogne project, dedicated to the development of contactors; the Sushi project, on molecular simulation applied to capture and the Dalmatien project on amine degradation, coordinated by IFP Energies nouvelles those last three projects being funded by the ANR. It also contributes to the following projects: Puits CO2 (study of degradation mechanisms of sealing materials for wells); CO2 Vadose and Sentinelle relative to monitoring; Costa Brava and Manaus on risk analysis; Tram on modeling by random operation; SHPCO₂ , Petalh, VFSitCom and Hamm on digital aspects and calculation information. And, finally, it participates in the France Nord project (Ademe), launched in 2010, aimed at selecting a site to set up a pilot CO2 storage infrastructure in a deep saline aquifer.

At the European level

IFP Energies nouvelles is involved in the following capture projects: Cesar and Cleo (to reduce the cost of postcombustion capture), and Icap (CO₂ capture using a hydrate process). In 2011, IFP Energies nouvelles contributed to three new projects launched as part of FP7: UltimateCO₂ on the long-term fate of CO₂, Octavius on CO2 capture, led by IFP Energies nouvelles and the European CCS Demonstration Project Network secretariat within the context of the Tri4CCS Alliance in collaboration with the GCCSI.
It is also a partner in the postcombustion capture demonstration project led by the power company Enel at the Porto Tolle coal-fired power plant, as part of the European EEPR program.

In addition, at the end of 2010, IFP Energies nouvelles was chosen to coordinate the EERA European CO₂ capture and storage research program. This program brings together 32 members from 12 different countries. In the transport field, it is leading the Cocate project (transport of CO₂ to storage sites). Finally, in the storage sector, IFP Energies nouvelles is leading the SiteChar project (characterization of storage research sites in Europe), launched in early 2011. It is also involved in CO2ReMoVe (verification and monitoring of CO₂ geological storage sites), Ecco (technical and economic assessment of the CO₂ capture and storage industry) and CO2Care (management of the closure and abandonment of storage sites).

On an international level

IFP Energies nouvelles, Geogreen and the BRGM are working for the Kapsarc research center to study the feasibility of CO₂ capture and storage solutions in Saudi Arabia.

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+ Industrial development > CO₂
+ Partnerships > European CO₂ projects