First tonne of CO2 captured in Le Havre for ADEME, Alstom and EDF

CO₂ capture tests were initiated at Alstoms and EDFs research demonstration unit, which was selected for funding by the ADEME in 2010, with the capture of the first tonne of CO₂ July, 11^th.

Funded at 25% by the ADEMEs research demonstration fund, this 22 million investment is part of the EDF Groups determination to invest in research and innovation towards reducing the environmental impact from power stations that use fossil sources of energy.

A dozen engineers from the Research and Development teams at EDF and Alstom are driving the tests. The intent of these tests is to confirm the predicted quantity of energy and amine solvent required to operate the unit, so as to assess whether the process is worthwhile from a cost and an environmental standpoint. They will also look at how the unit performs in an industrial setting, as well as how flexible it is to use within a fully operating power plant. Such tests represent a crucial step in developing efficient industrial solutions for capturing CO₂.

This pilot is installed in unit 4 at the EDF thermal power station in Le Havre. The technology, provided by Alstom in partnership with The Dow Chemical Co. and chosen by EDF, consists in cleaning the flue gas with UCARSOL^TM FGC-3000 amine solvent from Dow, which is the base component of the reagent used to separate CO₂ from the flue gas. For this pilot unit, Alstom and Dow have deployed an advanced configuration for the process, specifically developed to minimise energy consumption.

The objective, using this research prototype, is to capture about 1 tonne of CO₂ per hour. The CO₂ will be released into the stacks, the aim of the project being to test the CO₂ capture process itself and not the storage. Following technical testing, EDF will analyse the cost implications of the process.

Alstom develops a portfolio of the most advanced Carbon Capture Technologies for Power and Industrial applications and has participated in 13 pilot and validation units with the global energy sectors biggest utilities and industrial companies around the world. In parallel, the Group is now active in several large-scale demonstration projects in development.

ABOUT EDF

EDF group, one of the leaders in the European energy market, is an integrated energy company active in all areas of the business: generation, transmission, distribution, energy supply and trading. The Group is the leading electricity producer in Europe. In France, it has mainly nuclear and hydropower generation facilities where 95.9% of the electricity output is CO2-free

EDFs transmission and distribution subsidiaries in France operate 1,285,000 km of low and medium voltage overhead and underground electricity lines and around 100,000 km of high and very high voltage networks. The Group is involved in supplying energy and services to approximately 28.6 million customers in France. The Group generated consolidated sales of 72.7 billion in 2012, of which 46.2% outside of France. EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange and is a member of the CAC 40 index.

About Alstom

Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 93,000 people in around 100 countries. It had sales of over 20 billion and booked close to 24 billion in orders in 2012/13.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2012, Dow had annual sales of approximately $57 billion and employed approximately 54,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

About ADEME

The French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) is active in the implementation of public policy in the areas of the environment, energy and sustainable development. The Agency provides expertise and advisory services to businesses, local authorities and communities, government bodies and the public at large, to enable them to establish and consolidate their environmental action. As part of this work ADEME helps finance projects, from research to implementation, in the areas of waste management, soil conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy, air quality and noise abatement.

ADEME is a public agency under the joint authority of the Ministry for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, and the Ministry for Higher Education and Research.

www.ademe.fr

CONTACTS PRESS

EDF Le Havre:
Deborah Prigent: +33 (0)6 80 64 70 63Communication Manager http://le-havre.edf

Alstom:  
Claire Biau:  +33 1 41 49 33 14 Media Relations Manager

ADEME :
Service de presse ADEME:  +33 1 49 09 27 47  ademepresse@tbwa-corporate.com 

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