(689c) Design of Networks for the Large-Scale Deployment of CO2 Capture, Transport and Storage Using Multi-Period Optimization Models: The Case for the Netherlands

Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is widely accepted as one of the key technologies in the portfolio of actions that can help mitigate CO₂ emissions. CCS can play significant role especially in the short/medium term as it offers a seamless and cheaper transition route towards a more sustainable energy economy (e.g., renewables) in the long-term while allowing the continued use of fossil fuels environmentally benignly. However, one of the main stumbling blocks to realize large-scale deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the huge upfront costs involved. Hence, in this contribution we have proposed a comprehensive optimization framework, that is spatially and temporally explicit, to design the least-cost CCS networks and their optimal evolution with time over the next four decades (i.e., until 2050). This framework establishes optimal transport links amongst most potential sources and sinks (while leaving out the not-so-important ones from a global perspective), as and when they are necessary, to achieve a pre-set CO₂ reduction target that is to be met by CCS in every decade within this time horizon. We have then demonstrated the applicability and usefulness of our approach with a real case study by applying it to design CCS networks for the Netherlands.

As demonstrated by Konda et. al., 2011, CCS must be an integral part of the Dutch CO₂ mitigation portfolio to comply with the local and regional (i.e., EU level) CO₂ mitigation targets. Furthermore, the availability of a number of large-scale CO₂ point-sources and large storage capacity makes CCS an attractive CO₂ mitigation option for the Netherlands. Potential CO₂ sources considered within our framework include the existing power plants (including coal/gas-fired plants and Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle plants) and industrial sources (including refineries, cement, steel and chemical plants such as ammonia and hydrogen production plants). In addition to the existing plants, we have also considered the prospective plants within the scope of this study – this is an one of the salient features of our models, and as we will demonstrate, this is an important aspect as establishing a CO₂ capture facility at an existing/old power plant can be more expensive compared to establishing it at a new/prospective facility. This is because new plants can be built in accordance with the requirements so as to make its integration with CO₂ capture facility easier and cheaper (for instance, they can be capture-ready plants) and to minimize the additional capital burden and efficiency losses/penalties. Potential sinks considered include depleted gas reservoirs (including the Groningen fields) onshore and offshore, enhanced coal-bed methane recovery (ECBM) sites and saline aquifers. Within the Dutch context, depleted oil reservoirs' estimated storage capacity is rather limited and hence they are not considered. Extensive data on all the point sources (i.e., CO₂ emissions/yr, location, type etc) and sinks (i.e., sink capacity, location, type etc.) are obtained from latest data-sources (including official sources whenever possible) as it is important to ensure the quality of the data used in such a large-scale real case-study. CO₂ is transported by pipelines (both onshore and offshore) and pipeline economies of scale is explicitly accounted for (by piecewise linearization) in our models. We have already obtained interesting results that are practically useful/significant demonstrating the need and usefulness of such a holistic systems based multi-period optimization approach to design optimal and realistic large-scale CCS networks. The results, model and the salient features will be discussed in detail during the presentation. (Disclaimer: This work is done while the first author was at Imperial College London and the content/opinions/results discussed do not necessarily represent those of the associated institutions).

References: Konda, N. V. S. N. M.; Shah, N.; Brandon, Nigel P., Optimal transition towards a large-scale hydrogen infrastructure for the thansport sector: The case for the Netherlands. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy (36) 4619 -4635