Periodic Reporting for period 2 - 3D (DMX Demonstration in Dunkirk)
Berichtszeitraum: 2020-11-01 bis 2021-10-31
The “3D” (DMX Demonstration in Dunkirk) project’s ambition is to validate replicable technical solutions and to achieve industrial deployment of CCS technology at first in Europe but also around the World.
The 3D project has 3 main objectives:
-To demonstrate the effectiveness of DMX™ (IFPEN), a CO2 capture process on an industrial pilot plant that will capture 0.5 tCO2/hour from steel mill by 2022-2023. This pilot plant is being built at the ArcelorMittal plant in Dunkirk. It is the last step before the commercialisation by AXENS of this process.
-To prepare the implementation of a first industrial CCS unit in Dunkirk, operational after 2025. More than 1 MtCO2 per year could be captured on ArcelorMittal blast furnace gas and stored in a North Sea geological storage.
-To explore the future Dunkirk-North Sea CCS Cluster to be operational by 2035 with more than 10 MtCO2 per year captured and stored in the North Sea.
The project success relies on an experienced consortium gathering 11 partners from 7 European countries, 2 academics institutions (ETH, DTU), 4 technology providers (Air Products, GASSCO, IFPEN, UETIKON-Seqens group), 3 engineering companies (AXENS, John Cockerill, Brevik Engineering) and 2 end-users (ArcelorMittal, TotalEnergies).
a) Demonstration of the DMX process
Initial evaluation of the KPIs and TRL for the DMX process has been done using the ProQual methodology developed by TotalEnergies. By the end of the 3D project, this technology should evolve from TRL 4 (technology validated in lab) to TRL7 (system prototype demonstration in operational environment).
UETIKON has manufactured in 2021, the DMX-B solvent that will be used for the pilot plant and after analysis by IFPEN, it was confirmed that the product was at the required specification.
The FEED and the engineering studies were carried out by AXENS and ArcelorMittal have supported the cost estimate of the pilot plant and the Go decision to build the pilot has been taken on March 20th 2020. Permitting actions for the operation of the 3D pilot plant at the Dunkirk steel mill have been finalised by ArcelorMittal in conjunction with the French authorities. The pilot is almost finalised now (see picture), and it will be delivered in November 2021 on the Dunkirk site. After, connection to the steel mill and commissioning/start-up activities the pilot will be able to start the tests allowing the DMX demonstration.
b) First CCS industrial unit (1 MtCO2/year)
The pre-FEED (Front End Engineering Design) of the industrial CO2 capture plant has been finalised by AXENS, IFPEN and ArcelorMittal. It will be considered the decarbonisation of a split stream (1MtCO2/y) gas from Dunkirk’s blast furnace N°4. CAPEX and OPEX costs have been estimated.
Waste heat recovery studies on the steel mill to produce the steam necessary for the regeneration of the DMX solvent has been finalised. TotalEnergies, John Cockerill has performed the heat recovery solutions basic design. CAPEX, OPEX and the steam cost have been estimated.
Bases of study for CO2 clean-up and conditioning have been reviewed by Air Products in the 2nd Period. Preliminary process studies have been carried out by DTU and Air Products in order to optimise the pressure of CO2 liquefaction, purification of the raw CO2, as well as the handling of CO2 vent and boiloff streams.
TotalEnergies has studied the geological storage possibilities in the North Sea area. Three promising storage locations have been identified (see the map attached to the summary).
In parallel, GASSCO and Brevik Engineering have defined for each concept the bases of study for CO2 transport and started to analyse the different options.
Techno-economic studies on the whole CCS chain have started at TotalEnergies & IFPEN. The main scenario with capture and storage of 1 MtCO2 per year has been defined.
Life cycle assessment (LCA) studies have just started. ETH Zürich, IFPEN and TotalEnergies teams have participated in the definition of the main scenario to be considered for these LCA studies, which will be the same as for techno economic studies. First data from the different WP started to be integrated in the models.
Social Sciences Humanities studies have been started. The phase on stakeholder mapping around ArcelorMittal steel mill in Dunkirk based on interviews and recommendations were finished. A civil committee is being constituted.
c) CCS Cluster Dunkirk – North Sea (10 MtCO2/year)
The activity of WP8 has started. A CO2 pipeline backbone seems to be needed from Le Havre-Dunkirk to Rotterdam to collect the CO2 from the industrial hubs. In this context, a pipeline from France to the Netherlands could be on-shore and off-shore as well given the difficulty to deploy a pipeline on land. Local stakeholders will be contacted to progress together in making a better long-term scenario.
d) Dissemination and communication activities
A press release has announced the launch of the 3D project. This communication action encountered a lot of success: more than 90 articles published in newspapers, scientific and even economic reviews. The public website (https://3d-ccus.com/) is in operation since February 2020. News from the project are shared very often on LinkedIn.
The 3D project has been presented during the main international conferences on CCS: GPA, PCC-5, GHGT…
The 3D project will contribute also to the dynamization of the Dunkerque area. The deployment of the CCUS will be major for the job creation and the positive economic impact for the region Hauts de France.