EEW is advancing its Carbon capture strategy. Although the technology is technically feasible, significant economic and regulatory hurdles remain for large-scale implementation.
Key Takeaways
- EEW is advancing its CO2 capture strategy, facing economic and regulatory hurdles for large-scale implementation.
- Eike Diedecke presented EEW’s CCUS strategy, including technological screening and site-specific analyses at a recent forum.
- EEW plans a large-scale CO2 capture plant in Delfzijl, capable of capturing 100,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, but construction is currently paused.
- The company is focusing on chemical absorption methods, particularly amine scrubbing, while also exploring alternative processes.
- Initial findings reveal that optimal CO2 capture isn’t aligned with maximum capture rates, highlighting the need for new operating strategies.
Eike Diedecke of the plant operator EEW presented the company’s strategy for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) at the Waste Management and Resources Forum in Kassel, Germany, last week. The company is preparing for market entry by developing several action areas simultaneously.
A Holistic Approach To CCUS
According to Diedecke, EEW’s strategy includes technological screening and building expertise through test and demonstration plants. In addition, the company is analysing site-specific requirements such as available space, energy integration, and potential partnerships. A key part of the strategy involves political engagement to establish the necessary economic, legal, and infrastructural frameworks. This includes funding mechanisms and a CO2 infrastructure.
Project Development And Technology Screening
EEW has identified numerous locations with potential for CO2 capture projects, with development stages ranging from initial reviews to concrete project plans. A reference project is a planned large-scale capture plant at the Delfzijl site in the Netherlands, which will use amine scrubbing. The plant is designed with a capacity of 100,000 tonnes of CO2 per year per line. While construction has been approved, procurement is currently paused.
The company is evaluating various processes, including absorption, adsorption, membrane, and cryogenic methods. Currently, the focus is on chemical absorption (amine scrubbing) due to its high level of maturity. However, alternative approaches are also being pursued. A test facility in Hannover using potassium carbonate scrubbing (Capsol) has achieved capture rates of over 90 per cent with a capacity of 1 to 2 tonnes of CO2 per day. Since 2025, container-based amine scrubbing units with a capacity of 0.5 tonnes of CO2 per day have been used at various locations for parameter studies and staff training.
Initial Findings And Outlook
Initial findings from the mobile test plants show that the energetic optimum for CO2 capture does not coincide with the maximum capture rate. Therefore, this necessitates the development of operating strategies that consider both economic and regulatory conditions.
Diedecke concluded that while CO2 capture at Waste-to-Energy plants is technically feasible, significant challenges remain in terms of upscaling, economic operation, and the political framework.
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