Capsol, a leader in carbon capture technology, has partnered with Sumitomo, a decarbonization company, to launch a carbon capture demonstration at a biomass-powered combined heat and power (bio-CHP) plant in Västerås, Sweden. This project is a follow-up to the successful collaboration at Växjö Energi AB’s biomass facility.
Details of the Collaboration
The new demonstration project will be installed at Mälarenergi’s biomass-powered facility, located in Västerås. The collaboration is set to begin this November. It aims to capture a significant amount of carbon dioxide from biomass combustion.
Building on the lessons learned from their previous partnership, Capsol and Sumitomo aim to scale their efforts. The ultimate goal is to develop a full-scale system capable of capturing up to 400,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
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Technology Behind the Carbon Capture Process
For this project, Sumitomo will provide the carbon capture facility, while Mälarenergi will manage the day-to-day operations at the site. The demonstration will use Capsol’s mobile CO2 capture unit, which utilizes the Hot Potassium Carbonate (HPC) process. This process is designed to absorb carbon dioxide from exhaust gases. The CO2 binds with a potassium carbonate solution, forming a compound. This compound is then heated to release pure CO2.
The HPC system boasts a capture rate of more than 90%, ensuring the produced CO2 is of high purity. The CO2 can then be either reused or stored safely. The technology also promotes environmental sustainability through its use of a non-toxic solvent, making it suitable for areas close to residential zones.
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Sustainable Byproducts and Future Expansion
The carbon capture process also generates valuable byproducts, including low-temperature heat, which can be used for additional energy production. According to Capsol, their technology has already been successfully demonstrated at several biomass and energy-from-waste (EfW) plants in Europe.
Capsol plans to expand its carbon capture initiatives, with a potential annual CO2 reduction of over seven million tonnes. This partnership aims to contribute significantly to global decarbonization efforts and the transition to net-zero emissions.
By partnering with Sumitomo, Capsol is taking significant steps to advance global decarbonization goals. Their carbon capture projects are helping to reduce emissions while also supporting sustainable energy production.
As this demonstration project progresses, the partners aim to gather vital data that will inform future large-scale deployments, ultimately playing a crucial role in the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy system.