The Carbon Corner - Issue #61
Welcome to the 61st issue of the Carbon Corner! We hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving yesterday, a celebration of gratitude, loved ones, and all the little things that make life extraordinary!
US Department of Energy Invests $444 Million in Carbon Storage Projects to Reduce EmissionsThe U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is investing over $444 million in 16 selected projects across 12 states to strengthen the country's carbon management industry. These projects aim to expand carbon dioxide storage infrastructure, significantly reducing CO2 emissions from industrial operations, power plants, and legacy emissions in the atmosphere. Funded by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these projects will support the Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE) Initiative, managed by the DOE's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM). Nine of the projects will focus on carbon dioxide storage complex feasibility assessments, particularly in regions lacking these facilities (CarbonSAFE Phase II). The other seven projects will concentrate on site characterization and permitting (CarbonSAFE Phase III). DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) will oversee these initiatives, ensuring they engage with local communities and address societal impacts. The FECM's goal is to reduce the environmental and climate impacts of fossil fuels while advancing carbon capture, storage, and other carbon management technologies to achieve net-zero emissions across the U.S. economy. Controversy Surrounds Proposal to Store Carbon Emissions Under U.S. National ForestsThe U.S. Forest Service is considering a rule change to allow the storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution under the country's national forests and grasslands as part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, this proposal has raised concerns among environmental groups and researchers. While the storage may occur underground in national forests, the transportation of CO2 to these sites would require the construction of extensive industrial pipelines, potentially impacting the environment. There are also safety concerns associated with pipeline ruptures, as CO2 can displace oxygen and pose a risk to both humans and wildlife. Additionally, some argue that carbon capture and storage technology could be used to prolong fossil fuel operations, undermining efforts to combat climate change. Critics suggest that the focus should be on reducing fossil fuel use rather than relying on carbon capture and storage, which has shown mixed results in emission reduction targets. University of Wyoming to Lead $11.2 Million Carbon Capture and Storage Project in Echo SpringsThe University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources is set to lead its fourth carbon capture and storage (CCS) project after being selected by the U.S. Department of Energy. The $11.2 million Williams Echo Springs project will focus on conducting a two-year feasibility study for creating a saline carbon dioxide storage hub in the Echo Springs region of Wyoming. The project aims to determine which of Echo Springs' six formations can securely and cost-effectively store at least 50 million metric tons of CO2 indefinitely. It will collaborate with midstream natural gas company Williams and leverage existing CO2 infrastructure. The initiative is part of the Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE) program and will help develop carbon management strategies for the region. ADNOC and Santos Partner to Advance Carbon Management and CCS in Asia-PacificAbu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has partnered with Australia's Santos to explore the development of a joint global carbon management platform aimed at supporting decarbonization efforts in the Asia-Pacific region and accelerating net-zero goals. The strategic collaboration agreement focuses on carbon capture technologies, global carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, and innovative solutions for CO2 shipping and transport infrastructure. ADNOC and Santos will work together to advance CCS technologies needed for global industrial decarbonization. They will also examine the creation of a CO2 transportation network to enable heavy-emitting sectors to capture, ship, and store CO2. ADNOC has been actively pursuing decarbonization efforts, with plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045 and a target CCS capacity of 10 million tons per annum (mmtpa) by 2030. The company currently operates the Al Reyadah facility, capable of processing 800,000 tons of CO2 per year, and is working on carbon capture projects at the Habshan and Hail and Ghasha facilities. Santos, on the other hand, has been seeking to reduce its carbon footprint and expand its CCS efforts, including projects in partnership with Timor-Leste's TIMOR GAP and SK E&S to support Asia's decarbonization. Horisont Energi and Koole Terminals Explore European Carbon Capture and Storage Value ChainClean energy company Horisont Energi and independent provider of integrated services Koole Terminals have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the potential development of a European carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain. The MoU outlines their intention to develop CO2 import and export terminals in continental Europe, including a potential Koole Terminals CO2 terminal in Rotterdam. This would be connected to the planned Delta Rhine Corridor CO2 pipeline, allowing volumes to be gathered from various places and shipped to carbon storage terminals, such as the Gismarvik CO2 terminal in Norway. The Gismarvik terminal is intended to become an injection hub for CO2 before permanent storage on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, with an anticipated annual capacity of 20-24 million tons. The two parties also expect to explore certification solutions to develop fully auditable inventory control, emission certification, traceability management, and trading solutions for CO2. Bjørgulf Haukelidsæter Eidesen, CEO of Horisont Energi, said the proposed CO2 terminal in Rotterdam would play a central role in establishing the CCS value chain in Europe. John Kraakman, CEO of Koole Terminals, said the two firms have made material progress enhancing potential CO2 intermediate storage capabilities at Rotterdam. Carbon Catalyst and Summit Energy Evolution Partner in UK North Sea CCS ProjectCarbon Catalyst has entered into an agreement with Summit Energy Evolution Limited (SEEL), a subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation, to farm out a 10% working interest in the Orion carbon storage license located in the Southern North Sea sector of the UK Continental Shelf. This project marks SEEL's entry into the UK carbon storage sector and is designed to deliver an initial injection capacity of 1 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa), increasing to 6 Mtpa, with injection expected to start in 2031. The Orion project consists of two carbon storage licenses covering decommissioned gas fields and is geographically proximal to the UK's largest industrial cluster in Humberside. This project aims to support carbon capture and storage (CCS) efforts in the region, contributing to the UK's net-zero goals. The farmout agreement is subject to regulatory approval, and it signifies further collaboration in the CCS sector to reduce carbon emissions. Carbon Catalyst has been actively engaged in partnering with companies to advance CCS initiatives in the UK North Sea, addressing the critical need for carbon mitigation solutions in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Schaper Energy Consulting is a professional engineering firm offering carbon strategy services to CCS site developers. Check out some examples of our projects here: https://schaperintl.com/carbon-strategies/ If you have questions or comments, please contact us at info@schaperintl.com. We hope you enjoyed reading this week and hope to see you back next week for more! |
Schaper Energy Consulting
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