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FORNY20-FORNY2020

Carbon Capture in Molten Salts (CCMS): An efficient method for CO2 capture

Alternative title: Karbonfangst i saltsmelter (CCMS): En effektiv metode for CO2 fangst

Awarded: NOK 5.0 mill.

Project Number:

327524

Project Period:

2021 - 2023

Funding received from:

After the Paris Agreement, there is a global need for new technology to reduce carbon emissions. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) plays a crucial role in this context. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that CCS will increase from around 40 million tons per year today to 5.6 gigatons by 2050. For carbon capture to be a part of climate solutions, the costs of CCS need to be reduced from their current levels to become a competitive emissions-reducing option. The challenge is that effective capture technologies are still lacking for processes that emit high volumes of CO2 but have low CO2 concentrations (below 12% CO2 in the flue gas, down to Direct Air Capture (DAC) levels). To address these needs, researchers at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) have developed and patented Carbon Capture in Molten Salts (CCMS). CCMS captures CO2 in a mixture of molten salts, by abundant, non-toxic absorbent raw materials, with minimal degradation of this reagent. This will reduce the capture costs. The CCMS process can also leverage energy recovery. This capture process has rapid reactions and a high absorption capacity, making it very suitable for use in the metal industry, Waste-to-Energy (WtE), and DAC. The technology has the potential to be commercially competitive compared to established capture methods, especially for capturing from emissions with low CO2 concentrations. The project has delivered the following results: Identified industrial segments for the integration and implementation of this technology, with Waste-to-Energy leading the way. Developed a proposal for the design of a fully electrified carbon capture facility. Conducted a techno-economic analysis and compared it to amine technology, indicating that CCMS carbon capture technology can be competitive with the right integration into primary processes. Developed a new and improved process concept for handling CO2 without compression and storage, utilizing molten salts. Work is ongoing on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for the new process. The project results are being taken to the next phase through secured funding for a pre-project aimed at a pilot plant for the Waste-to-Energy case. Industrial partners and investors are invited to contact us for participation.

Implementation of CCMS technology can have a major impact on reaching the UN sustainable Development Goals 9 and 13. The CCMS technology has the potential to help achieve net zero CO2 emission in hard-to-abate industries and could result in CO2 emission reduction of between 50 and 60 Mt CO2 per year by 2034. This CCMS verification project represents an imporant step in advancing the efficiency and sustainability of carbon capture technologies. The availability of cost-efficient CO2 capture technology that also performs well at low level of CO2 concentration (<10%), gives companies within metal production and Waste-to-energy. the possibility to capture CO2 and to establish leadership in carbon capture. Ultimately, it will give a possibility to capture CO2 independently of point of emission, by direct air capture (DAC). Furthermore, the project has strengthened cooperation and collaboration between various sectors, including innovation companies, universities, research institutes, and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This multidisciplinary approach has created an environment of fruitfull knowledge exchange, benefiting all participants and increasing the chances for commerical implementation of CCMS technology. One of the notable outcomes of the project is that it has opened up new business opportunities for the commercial actors involved, extending beyond post-combustion carbon capture to areas like Direct Air Capture (DAC) and the utilization of molten salts. The latest one has a new business potential in growing industries, such as thermal energy storage and modular nuclear reactors. Moreover, the project has also established new cooperation channels with counterparts in the European Union (EU) and the United States. These collaborations have the potential for EU and US research and development partnerships, making the project's impact not only national but international in scope. This expanded network is critical for global adoption of innovative carbon capture technologies.

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Funding scheme:

FORNY20-FORNY2020