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Date: 2013-03-08
On April 3, the European Commission will launch a new contest to fund CCS projects. The new launch comes on the heels of an earlier round failure to find a winner. In a statement, the Commission said the deadline for member states to submit applications was July 3, 2013, three months after the launch, and it aimed to make awards by the middle of next year. In the previous round, none of the short-listed CCS projects met Commission criteria. (Source: Global CCS Institute, 5 March, 2013) Contact: Global CCS Institute, +61 2 6175,5300, www.globalccsinstitute.com
Tags CCS news, Global CCS Institute news,
Date: 2013-01-11
On Jan. 1, the Canadian province of Quebec and the State of California became the first North American jurisdictions to enforce compulsory cap-and-trade regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The idea was originally pushed by former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Quebec premier Jean Charest, within the Western Climate Initiative, which includes seven states and four provinces -- Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia. Quebec and California will set allowable emissions limits in the first year, with the permitted amount reduced over time.
Quebec -- "la belle provance" -- aims to reduce its GHG emissions to 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020. California aims to return to its 1990 level of GHG emissions by the same year. (Source: Global CCS Institute, Vancouver Sun, 1 Jan., 2013) Contact: Global CCS Institute, +61 2 6175,5300, www.globalccsinstitute.com
Tags Cap-and-Trade news, Global CCS Institute news,
Date: 2012-10-19
According to yesterday's edition of the European Voice, EU member states are struggling to meet EC deadlines for securing funding for pilot projects to demonstrate CCS technology. Without the pilot projects, CCS is unlikely to contribute significantly to reducing the EU's carbon emissions. At stake is €1.5 billion of EU funding earmarked for CCS but only if member states put up co-financing. Ten of the 20 member states have so far responded.
The UK appears to be particularly behind schedule to meet the Commission's deadlines because a competition to choose the best projects was launched in the UK only in April, 2012, a previous competition having been cancelled last year.
A recently released Global CCS Institute survey suggested that Europe may be stalled in the development of CCS. In the past year, nine CCS projects have been launched worldwide, but only two of these are in the EU -- the Sargas power plant in Malta and the Caledonia Clean Energy Project in the UK. Five are in China, one is in Norway and one is in the US. Out of the 75 projects launched worldwide, only eight are operational.
At the current rate, only 67 projects will be operational by 2020. The institute says that for the technology to be able to deliver a significant benefit to emissions reduction, 130 projects are needed by 2020.
(Source: European Voice, Oct. 18, 2012) Contact: Global CCS Institute, www.globalccsinstitute.com
Tags CCS news, Global CCS Institute news,
Date: 2012-01-23
In Australia, CSIRO and Curtin University are jointly conducting an assessment of the site specific resources that are geographically co-located with proposed carbon storage. The project also aims to understand the structural, stratigraphic and geomechanical aspects at proposed storage sites in the Southern Perth Basin, the Gippsland Basin, and the Surat Basin, to assess the potential impacts of CO2 injection on adjacent resources. This literature review and data gap analysis forms a first step of the study to understanding the present level of knowledge for conducting such an assessment.
The literature reviewed relates both to any direct assessment of potential impacts of CO2 on other natural resources, as well as those that contain valuable information that would be used for making such an assessment. These include reports on hydrogeology and groundwater, hydrocarbon and coal occurrence, geomechanical and structural assessment, and other relevant site specific studies on carbon dioxide storage. (Source: CSIRO)
Access report HERE
Tags CSIRO news,
Date: 2012-01-16
The Global CCS Institute has announced funding for a package of leading Australian carbon capture and storage demonstration projects and research initiatives, highlighting the role the technology can play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Institute is providing:
Knowledge funded by the Institute is captured from different stages of the project life cycle, across technologies and geographic regions. It is then shared with the broader industry via workshops, thematic group discussions and one-on-one meetings. It is also shared through the Institute's digital knowledge platform, via private and public discussions, blogs, case studies, reports and other communications. (Source: Global CCS Institute, January, 2012)
Further project support information can be found HERE Contact: Global CCS Institute, + 61 2 6175 5300, www.globalccsinstitute.com
Tags Global CCS Institute news, Australia CCS news,
Date: 2011-11-02
A report by the Australian-based Global CCS Institute on Wednesday says the world is on track to have 20 CCS projects by 2020, despite last month's cancellation of $l.5 billion in funding for a British plant. The report also says that when compared with other low-carbon emission technologies, CCS can be a cost-effective tool to curb GHG pollution from coal and gas-fired power stations .CCS is not yet competitive for the power sector but governments and the International Energy Agency see it as a key way to fight climate change by trapping and burying GHG emissions while maintaining stable energy supply.
CCS costs are still an issue, and the British government decision last month to withdraw funding for the country's first and most advanced CCS project at Longannet in Scotland has underscored critics' doubts that CCS can reach commercial scale by the end of the decade. Late last month, the government said it had dropped funding for the project that would have trapped emissions in a 330 megawatt unit but that the £1 billion in subsidies would be dedicated to a different CCS project.Other project have been delayed or cancelled in Norway, Dubai and the United States.
The cost of cutting or avoiding CO2 emissions for a coal-fired power plant fitted with current CCS technology ranges from $23 to $92 per tonne of CO2 and is a little higher for natural gas-fired power plants, the report said.
This compared to an avoided cost of $90 to $176 per tonne for offshore wind, $139 to $201 per tonne for solar thermal, and more for solar photovoltaic, or PV.
(Source: Contact: Global CCS Institute, Reuters, November, 2, 2011)
Contact: Global CCS Institute, + 61 2 6175 5300, www.globalccsinstitute.com
Tags Global CCS Institute news,
Date: 2011-04-19
On behalf of the Expert Group on Clean Fossil Energy (EGCFE), the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat has issued an RFP on Permitting Issues Related to Carbon Capture and Storage for Coal-Based Power Plant Projects in Developing APEC Economies. The project will review current activities regarding legal, regulatory, and permitting aspects of CCS implementation in national administrations and international bodies, the latter including OECD's International Energy Agency, the recently formed Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute (GCCSI), and other relevant international and regional organizations and forums.
Responses to this RFP are due by 5:00 PM (Singapore time) on May 6, 2011. Selection of the consultant is anticipated by May 2011. The detailed draft outline for a final report should be completed and submitted to the project steering committee for review by the end of June 2011. The consultant should complete the draft final report by mid-October 2011, and finalize it for publication by APEC following EGCFE project steering committee approval, by end-November 2011. Presentation of the results to an EGCFE Clean Fossil Energy Technical and Policy Seminar will depend on the Seminar dates, which will be known sufficiently in advance. The deadline for project completion and disbursement of APEC funds is December 31, 2011.(Source: The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), April, 18, 2011)
Request for Proposals HERE
More Energy Overviews CCS R&D news,
Date: 2011-04-14
The use of bio-energy with carbon capture and storage creates the possibility of decreasing the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, according to a newly released Global CCS Institute report.
According to the report, Global Status of BECCS Projects 2010, commissioned by the Global CCS Institute and carried out by the Swedish consultancy Biorecro AB, the process could be applied to a range of biomass related technologies such as fermentation in ethanol production and biogas refining processes, and others.
However, BECCS is still a new technology and the biomass it consumes must be sustainable produced. The report describes the 16 first projects worldwide aiming to install a BECCS process. Most of these are in Europe and North America.
Access report, HERE. (Source: Global CCS Institute, April, 2011)
Contact: Global CCS Institute, +61 2 6175 5300, www.globalccsinstitute.com
Date: 2011-04-14
The use of bio-energy with CCS creates the possibility of decreasing the level of CO2 in the atmosphere, according to a newly released Global CCS Institute report.
According to the Global Status of BECCS Projects 2010, commissioned by the Global CCS Institute and carried out by the Swedish consultancy Biorecro AB, the process could be applied to a range of biomass related technologies, such as power stations, combined heat and power plants, a range of flue gas streams, and fermentation in ethanol production and biogas refining processes.
The potential climate impact of combining biomass with CCS in BECCS systems is large, with negative emissions in the order of billions of tonnes. BECCS could also be a cost-effective technology for meeting ambitious climate targets. However, BECCS is still a new technology and the biomass it consumes must be sustainably produced.
The report describes the 16 first projects worldwide aiming to install a BECCS process. Most of these are in Europe and North America. (Source: Global CCS Institute, April, 2011)
Access report, HERE
Contact: Global CCS Institute, +61 2 6175 5300, www.globalccsinstitute.com
More Energy Overviews Global CCS Institute news,
Date: 2011-04-08
This report from the Global CCS Institute investigates existing and emerging uses of CO2 and reviews the potential to capture and reuse CO2 for industrial applications in order to accelerate the development and commercial deployment of CCS. The report considers both the near-term application of mature technologies such as enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and the longer term application of a number of promising new technologies that are still in the initial stages of their technical development.
The global CO2 reuse market currently amounts to approximately 80 million tpy and is dominated by EOR demand in North America. CO2 reuse for EOR has been a source of revenue for existing CCS projects in North America, and is incorporated into the planning of many proposed North American CCS projects. Elsewhere in the world, particularly in emerging and developing economies, the potential of EOR as an economic catalyst for CCS development is also being examined.
The key question addressed by this report is whether and to what extent EOR and other CO2 reuse technologies can accelerate the uptake and commercial deployment of CCS. Key findings include that:
Access report HERE
Contact: Global CCS Institute, +61 2 6175 5300, www.globalccsinstitute.com
More Energy Overviews Enhanced Oil Recovery news,
Date: 2011-03-17
The Office of Fossil Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has begun research under the Carbon Capture Simulation Initiative (CCSI), partnering with other national laboratories, universities, and industry to develop computational modeling and simulation tools to accelerate commercialization of CCS technologies. CCSI aims to use a software infrastructure to accelerate the development and deployment cycle for bringing new, cost-effective CCS technologies to market:
While the goal of the CCSI is to deliver tools that can simulate scale-up of a broad suite of new carbon capture technologies, the first 5 years of the project will focus on developing capabilities applicable to oxy-combustion and post-combustion capture by solid sorbents and advanced solvents. Among possible carbon capture technologies, these are expected to have the most immediate impact on U.S. pulverized coal power plants, which currently generate nearly half of the nation's electricity and are expected to emit 95 percent of the United State's coal-based CO2 emissions between 2010 and 2030.
The CCSI is led by NETL and leverages the core strengths of other DOE national laboratories in modeling and simulation.(Source: DOE, March 16, 2011)
Contact: David Miller, CCSI Technical Team Lead, Carbon Capture Simulation Initiative,(304) 285-6550, [email protected], http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/factsheets/rd/R%26D156_4P.pdf
More Energy Overviews CCSI news, Carbon Capture Technology news,
Date: 2011-03-09
The number of CCS projects around the world increased by 21 during 2010, taking the total to 234, up 10% on the previous year, according to The Global Status of CCS: 2010, a new report from Australia's Global CCS Institute. The latest additions include Australia's Gorgon CO2 Injection Project, which will be the largest project in the world when fully operational, and Southern Company's integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) project in the US.
But, despite an estimated $40 billion available globally for large-scale CCS projects, numerous projects haven't got off the ground; E.ON's proposed Kingsnorth development in the UK ,or the delayed US FutureGen 2.0 project . Nevertheless, the US continues to lead the way with 39 of the total 77 large-scale projects. Europe boasts just 21 and appears to be moving at somewhat slower pace than the US. Within Europe, Norway, the UK and the Netherlands are leading the vanguard with 11 large-scale projects in development. The report highlights where more efforts are needed to move the technology forward, including the characterization of storage sites and crucially reducing costs.
If development of CCS can be driven forward, the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that the technology could account for 19% of energy-related emissions reductions – on a par with renewables.
The report concludes that the world is still in the early stages of implementing large-scale CCS and that the demonstration phase is likely to last for over decade before we start seeing the widespread deployment of commercial CCS. (Source: Global CCS Institute, March 9, 2011)
Access The Global Status of CCS: 2010, HERE
Contact: Global CCS Institute, +61 2 6175 5300, www.globalccsinstitute.com
More Energy Overviews IGCC news, CCS news, FutureGen 2.0 news,
Date: 2011-02-17
Columbus, Ohio-headquartered American Electric Power will receive $4.01 million ($4 million AUS) funding from the Australia's Global CCS Institute to support the installation of the U.S.'s first commercial-scale CCS system at AEP's Mountaineer coal-fueled power plant in W.Va.
The funding will support the initial engineering and characterization phase of AEP's commercial-scale installation of a CCS system using Alstom's chilled ammonia process to capture at least 90 percent of the CO2 from 235 megawatts of Mountaineer's 1,300 MW of capacity. The captured carbon dioxide, approximately 1.5 million metric tons per year, will be treated and compressed, then injected into suitable geologic formations for permanent storage approximately 1.5 miles below the surface. The system will begin commercial operation in 2015.
The U.S. DOE is funding 50 percent of the costs, up to $334 million, and AEP is in discussions with other potential international partners.
In Sept., 2009, AEP and Alstom began operating a smaller-scale validation of the chilled-ammonia technology at Mountaineer. That system captures up to 90 percent of the CO2 from a slipstream of flue gas equivalent to 20 MW of generating capacity.
The Global CCS Institute works with organizations and governments to accelerate the broad deployment of commercial CCS and ensure that the technology plays a role in responding to the world's need for a low carbon energy future. (Source: AEP, February 16, 2011) Contact: Melissa McHenry, Sr. Manager, Media Relations,
American Electric Power, (614) 716-1120 ; The Global CCS Institute, +61 2 6175 5300, www.globalccsinstitute.com
More Energy Overviews American Electric Power news, Global CCS Inst. news, CCS.Alstom news,
Date: 2011-02-14
Established in 2008 to lead global research into carbon storage, the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute (GCCSI) now finds itself under pressure from both sides of politics; the Federal Government looking to cut funds and the Opposition wanting to scrap it all together and apply the savings to Australia's levy for relief from recent flooding.
The brainchild of former Australian PM Kevin Rudd, the 277 member GCCSI was to be a center for fossil fuel industries around the world to pool information and work towards the commercial deployment of CCS technology.
The Australian government has committed to fund it to the tune of $100 million a year, with more money expected to be forthcoming from international members. But, despite not getting a mention in Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's alternative to funding flood recovery, the Coalition is standing by its pledge to scrap the institute altogether. Prime Minister Julia Gillard has already slashed part of the GCCSI funding to raise money for the floods, but is committed to keeping it open.
(Source: GCCSI, ABC, February 9,2011)
Contact: Nick Otter, CEO, Global CCS Institute, +61 (2) 6175-5300, [email protected], www.globalccsinstitute.com
Date: 2010-11-04
The Global CCS Institute has issued a paper that seeks to define and explain the complexities surrounding carbon capture and storage ready policy, which helps governments prepare utilities for a shift to a low carbon economy and clarifies future costs for business. Such policies also pave the way for new power plants to be retrofitted with CCS technology when commercially viable. "CCS Ready policy needs to be rigorous enough to ensure that retrofit takes place while also being also being open enough to future capture technology advances," says Global CCS Institute CEO Nick Otter. "Early stage planning for storage is also an important step that underpins what it really means to be CCS Ready." (Source: Carbon Capture Journal, November 3, 2010) Contact: Nick Otter, CEO, Global CCS Institute, +61 (2) 6175-5300, [email protected], www.globalccsinstitute.com.
More Energy Overviews Global CCS Institute news,
Date: 2010-10-14
Tenaska has garnered a $7.7 million grant for an engineering design study of carbon capture technology expected to be used in its proposed Trailblazer coal-fired power plant near Sweetwater. The money is coming from Australia's Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute, and "provides international recognition of the really pioneering role that Trailblazer is expected to play to reduce carbon emissions," said Helen Manroe, Tenaska's Manager of Development. (Source: Abilene Reporter News, October 12, 2010) Contact: Bill Braudt, General Manager of Business Development, Tenaska Energy, (817) 462-1521, [email protected], www.tenaska.com; Nick Otter, CEO, Global CCS Institute, +61 (2) 6175-5300, [email protected], www.globalccsinstitute.com.
More Energy Overviews Carbon Capture Technology news, Tenaska news,
Date: 2010-10-14
The Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute (GCCSI) is distributing $18 million AUS ($16.07 million US) to a number of projects, including $2.3 million AUS to CarbonNet and $1.8 million AUS to the Callide Oxyfuel Project, both in Australia. "Integrating capture technology into new large-scale coal-fired power plants, or retrofitting existing commercial-scale power plants, has not been done before," says GCSSI CEO Nick Otter. "These are the kinds of learnings that are essential if CCS is to make a difference to the world's energy security challenges." (Source: Bloomberg, October 12, 2010) Contact: Nick Otter, CEO, Global CCS Institute, +61 (2) 6175-5300, [email protected], www.globalccsinstitute.com; Callide Oxyfuel, www.callideoxyfuel.com.
More Energy Overviews CCS news,