Preventing emissions from reaching the atmosphere
Power plants that burn fossil fuels to produce electricity are responsible for the vast majority of man-made CO2 emissions worldwide. The role of CO2 in global warming and climate change is now widely accepted and the EC has set ambitious targets for emissions reduction. Post-combustion carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the best way to accommodate existing (via retrofit) and new fossil fuel-based plants in curbing emissions during the transition to alternative sources of fuel. Although technically feasible, a major obstacle to widespread implementation has been the cost of capturing CO2. A large European consortium developed technology to overcome this barrier with EU funding of the 'CO2 enhanced separation and recovery' (CESAR) project. Post-combustion CO2 capture exploits amine-based solvent solutions. An amine-CO2 complex is formed which can then be decomposed with heat to produce high purity CO2 and the regenerated amine. The latter can be recycled for use in the capture process. CESAR investigated a number of potential solvents and capture process models through experimentation and modelling. Calculations suggested that the CESAR process could reduce the costs of CO2 capture by approximately 20 % compared to the benchmark capture process. The most promising combinations were tested at pilot plant scale paving the way for large-scale demonstrations. In addition, scientists conducted pioneering work in the field of emissions measurements. It enabled them to provide significant input to the European Technology Platform for Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants (ZEP), supporting CCS to combat climate change. CESAR is one of the projects helping to set the research agenda on this pivotal topic. CESAR provided technology for the post-combustion capture of CO2 from fossil fuel-based power plants with a significant cost savings compared to current processes. The EC is now one step closer to reaching its ambitious emissions reductions goals with a target on the world's largest producers of CO2.
