Lessons learned from mapping the technical and infrastructure needs for CCUS deployment in Europe

Map highlighting Baltic and Mediterranean regions

CCUS ZEN researchers have been working together to produce a unique map of CO2 emission sources, potential transport corridor networks and storage sites that will help guide future CCUS development in Europe. 

With the aim of accelerating the deployment of CCUS in industrial clusters, researchers from across Europe have identified and characterised CO2 emission sources and storage sites in the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean Sea regions. This high-level mapping exercise also included possible CO2 transport options and intermediate storage solutions, as well as an assessment of emerging CO2 utilisation industries.

“CCUS opportunities in the Baltic and Mediterranean regions are not as mature as in the North Sea Region,” says Ane Lothe, Research Manager at SINTEF and leader of CCUS ZEN’s Work Package 1. “To realise the full extent of CCUS in Europe, we need to explore the potential for CCUS in Eastern and Southern Europe as well.”

CCUS ZEN brings together researchers who have previously carried out research on carbon capture technologies, CO2 transport, storage and use for other European-funded projects, such as ALIGN-CCUS, STRATEGY CCUS and REALISE CCUS. 

“The map is the result of an interactive process, involving several meetings and discussions between partners to agree on the methodology for collecting and validating the different types of existing data, and identify knowledge gaps,” Lothe explains.

Fossil and biogenic CO2 emission mapping was carried out using data from CaptureMap (provided by the Norwegian climate-tech company Endrava), which includes data from the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR). All data were checked Endrava, as well as by regional partners in the project. Because the database did not have information about emission sources in Turkey, new data from this country were collected by the Middle East Technical University in Turkey and included in the CCUS ZEN maps. 

Among the countries in the Baltic Sea region, Germany and Poland have the largest number of facilities emitting over 100 kton CO2 per year (405 and 164, respectively). In the Mediterranean Sea region, the countries with the largest number of facilities emitting over 100 kton CO2 per year are France with 258 and Italy with 204 point sources.

When mapping potential storage sites, researchers classified the storage structure, estimated the storage capacity and the storage readiness level (SRL) of identified sites based on previously published methods. By taking into account the extent to which storage sites have been technically appraised and tested, the SRLs serve as a basis for estimating the time and cost needed to make a site operational, and will be the focus of later stages of the CCUS ZEN project. The resulting maps plot potential CO2 storage sites as well as Natura 2000 protected areas, so any overlap can be avoided. 

Both on and offshore storage sites, including deep saline aquifers and hydrocarbon fields, were identified in the Baltic Sea region, with Denmark and Poland having the most CO2 storage capacity (16042 and 8885 Mt respectively). In the Mediterranean Sea region, a deep saline aquifer in Eastern Spain and a deep saline aquifer and hydrocarbon fields in Italy offer the most CO2 storage capacity (4816 and 4699 Mt respectively).

Potential CO2 transport options by waterways and pipelines were mapped using a mapping tool developed in the CO2LOS project and the PCI Transparency Platform. Railway and road networks were also considered.

In both the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean Sea region it is possible to construct or convert infrastructure for CO2transport. If feasible, existing infrastructure for transport of natural gas could be converted for future transport of CO2. In some cases, new CO2 pipelines are likely to co-locate with electricity routes. 

Ongoing and upcoming CCU projects in the CO2 Value Europe’s database were also mapped to indicate CO2utilisation opportunities in regions of interest, along with CCU technology providers and sources of renewable energy, which are crucial for CCU to mitigate climate change. 

Lothe is very pleased with the result. “The map is undoubtedly helping to move CCUS forward in new regions,” Lothe says. “As demonstrated at the meeting Riga last October, it offers an excellent basis to make decisions about what areas to explore further,” she says. 

When considering key factors leading to the success of this high-level mapping exercise, she highlights the willingness of researchers and industry partners to share knowledge and data, and having partners in all countries. “You need people on the ground, who understand how things work in particular regions and know who to involve so you can gather expertise from across the CCUS value chain.”

Lothe is looking forward to the forthcoming CCUS ZEN meeting in Madrid that will focus on CCUS projects and business models in Southern Europe.


Picture from CINEA (European Climate, Infrastructure
and Environment Executive Agency) meeting in Brussels
where Lothe presented the CCUS ZEN project.
From left, Hanne Kvamsdal coordinating EU project AURORA,        
Inna Kim coordinating EU project REALISE
and Ane Lothe representing CCUS ZEN.

 


     Cathrine Ringstad presented results from CCUS ZEN project
     on CO2 Capture, Storage and Reuse 2023 organised by
     Fortes Media in Copenhagen in May 2023.