Worlds first carbon capture test plant launched
thanks to Alstom technology
Worlds first carbon capture test plant launched
thanks to Alstom technology
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Based on Alstom oxy-combustion technology, the
worlds first carbon capture pilot plant has been in
operation since 9 September at Vattenfalls Schwarze
Pumpe facility, in Germany. This 30 MW pilot project is a major
achievement in the field of carbon capture and storage for the
company, in line with its commitment to develop technologies
which provide affordable and clean power.
Engineers at Alstom have been working to
introduce processes for capturing CO2 during
electricity generation for several years. For this demonstration
plant, Alstom supplied the oxy-boiler technology, which contains
all the necessary components to demonstrate the complete oxy-fuel
chain, starting with oxygen production and ending with CO2
purification and compression.
The plant is planned to run for at least ten
years. Through a cooperation agreement signed between Gaz de
France and Vattenfall, the CO2 captured will be used for enhanced
gas recovery and storage at Europes second largest onshore
gas field, Altmark. CO2 will be forced 1,000 metres (3,300 ft)
below the soil into porous rock. Schwarze Pumpe will also provide
the technical basis for the construction of a much larger 200-300
MW demonstration power plant to be built by 2015.
Schwarze Pumpe is the first in a series of
breakthroughs in carbon capture technology for Alstom. Before the
end of the year, Europes second project, also using
oxy-combustion, will come onstream at Lacq in South West France.
Several more projects are under development worldwide, in the
USA, in Sweden, in Norway and in Canada.