Introduction

This report is considered the 3^rd in a series of reports summarizing the learning points from the different IEAGHG activities. This series of reports started by summarizing the learning points from the storage activities (report 2009/TR1, February 2009) and the CCS demonstration projects (report 2009/TR6, November 2009). This 3^rd report summarises key learning points on CO₂ capture and generic CCS studies from Operating Phase 5 of the IEAGHG, which commenced in 2005 and effectively coincided with the publication of the IPCC Special Report on Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (IPCC SRCCS). IEAGHG activities revolve mainly around contracted studies and organisation of the international research networks.

IEAGHG studies are chosen by programme members and sponsors from a wide list of proposals, ensuring those selected are focussed on topical technical issues. Study reports issued from 2005 onwards have contributed significant knowledge to major capture topics, including: post combustion; pre combustion; oxy-fuel combustion; economics; environmental impact; retrofit; capture readiness; biomass; low rank coal; CCS safety; CCS and CDM; CCS projects finance;  and medium sources of emissions.

Recommendations

The recommendations in this section were extracted directly from the different IEAGHG studies in the period 2005-2009. This makes it time dependent and changeable in the future depending on the expected progress in the CCS field.

1. Compare the costs of abating CO₂ emissions from small stationary sources by CCS with the costs of using low-CO₂ energy carriers produced by large plants with CCS; this could include the use of biomass.
2. Monitor the development in oxygen production technologies and provide a short updated review at an appropriate time.
3. Help permitting authorities to prepare guidelines for capture ready plants by summarising the various candidate technologies, costs and the legal issues.
4. Review and assess the definition and the evaluation method used for “zero emission” or “near zero emission” power plants.
5. Include oxy-fuel CFB case and IGCC in any future assessments of low rank coal power plants.
6. Investigate the possible applications of CO₂ capture in some niche industries where biomass is normally used as fuel. In addition, continue to monitor the development of the use of biomass for power and heat generation.
7. Analyse the impacts of cost or revenue from CCS including EOR on the power station investment decisions.
8. Carry out a full life cycle emissions analysis of GHGs including the fuel supply and CCS.
9. Perform a detailed assessment of the environmental impacts of solvent scrubbing process of CO₂ capture.
10. Study alternative ways of reducing CO₂ emissions from medium scale energy users, including energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy and large scale fossil fuel with CCS.
11. Prepare a road map to assist zones with a high concentration of industry to collaborate, exchange information and develop plant infrastructure with a view to effectively cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
12. Assess the benefits of integrating (co-locating) cement plants with CO₂ capture (post or oxy-fuel combustion) and other large industrial plants, especially power plants.
13. While evaluating the reduction of residential CO₂ emissions through the use of small cogeneration fuel cell systems in 2008; it was recommended not to carry further work on the potential of fuel cell systems to reduce emissions in the short term future.
14. IEAGHG to make generic safety bow-tie diagrams available as an additional tool through its website and support setting a centralised incident database for the CCS industry.
15. Examine the state of the art for fuel cell production and usage and the production of biomass fuels both in the areas of transport and power generation.
16. Focus in future transport fuel work on the commercial vehicles sector.