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News overview
Independent CO2 storage assessment18 July 2011Recently, an independent study has been completed studying all CO2 storage sites under the North Sea to approximately 140 kilometres from Rotterdam. Storing CO2 under sea is part of Rotterdam's plan to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% in 2025 compared to 1990. The results of the study are available for companies that consider CO2 capture and storage (CCS).
Deltalinqs, port and industries' association and partner in the Rotterdam Climate Initiative, assigned TNO to execute the study. The research was funded by the Global CCS Institute, five of the largest emitters in the region, CATO and Rotterdam Climate Initiative.
Storage capacity up to 2030The main conclusion of the study is that in excess of 200 megatons of storage capacity is available relatively close by Rotterdam in 5 (nearly) depleted gas fields. 200 megatons corresponds to CO2 emissions of the entire Netherlands during a year. This is sufficient CO2 storage capacity for the Rotterdam projects - both in the demonstration phase and the expected full scale projects - up until 2030. The gas field P18, situated 20 km of the Maasvlakte, is the first storage site that can be set in operation.
Unique studyResearch like this has never been exhibited worldwide. (Nearly) depleted gas fields were systematically screened and the five most promising fields were examined in detail at options for storing CO2. Ground breaking are not so much the technical as well the organizational skills. For modelling and characterization of the investigated gas fields the operators of the gas fields provided sensitive company information. Companies knew that the information used for the study is in the general interest of CCS. None of the stand-alone companies would have been able to develop this network, so there is a great willingness to cooperate.Follow-up studyIn view of Rotterdam's plans to store CO2 under the seabed from 2015 on - growing to 17.5 megatons per year in 2025 -, the storage capacity will be sufficient for the period up to around 2030. Several international surveys show that the application of CCS after 2025 will be scaled up rapidly. Especially after 2030, there will be a strong need for very large storage sites in order to be able to store the expected large flows of CO2. For this reason, the Rotterdam Climate Initiative will quickly start with an inventory of big sinks in the Dutch part of the North Sea covering gas fields and saline acquifers (salt water stocks deep below the seabed). Such storage locations should then be developed quickly in order to offer a solution for the expected large flows. Moreover, this study will also look at ways to use CO2 for increasing the oil production from oil fields (enhanced oil recovery - EOR).
Rotterdam Climate InitiativeIn the Rotterdam Climate Initiative (RCI) government and industry are working together on the ambitious climate targets. With this Rotterdam also contributes to achieving national climate goals. CCS is an important technology in contributing to Rotterdam's CO2 reduction targets, in addition to energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy (especially wind and biomass). The industrial cluster in the port of Rotterdam is located relatively close to CO2 storage sites under the North Sea. This offers the possibility of a shared CO2 transport and storage system, which connects multiple sources of industrial production and power generation with Rotterdam being the "CO2 hub" for neighbouring regions and the North Sea as a location for CO2 storage. In order to store CO2, the industry needs a detailed insight into the actual possibilities. At this initial stage this is required as a basis for their decisions on the development of CCS.
For more information and the studies go to http://www.rotterdamclimateinitiative.nl/ccs > mogelijkheden (scroll down for English)
This message is part of the CATO-2 Newsletter June 2011. The complete newsletter can be found here. |