A modelling tool-kit is to be developed by The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) to help industry, technology developers and the Government plan for the future of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in the UK.
The ETI, a public private partnership tasked with developing ‘mass-scale’ technologies that will help the UK meet its 2050 carbon reduction targets, has already identified a need to develop a modelling tool-kit to help inform decisions about the operation and maintenance of the various aspects of carbon capture and storage, including power stations, compressor stations, pipelines and storage sites.
A Request for Proposals has been issued today (22 October) and the ETI will invest in the region of £2m in the project.
A briefing session and workshop will be held on Tuesday 16 November 2010 to give interested parties more details on the project. The deadline for submitting an intention to make a proposal is 26 November and the closing date 17 December.
The RfP document can be found at http://www.energytechnologies.co.uk/Home/Technology-Programmes/Requests_for_Proposals_copy1.aspx
Power generation accounts for approximately a third of the UK’s CO2 emissions equivalent to 180 million tonnes a year. Capturing and storing that carbon could reduce emissions from fossil fuel power stations by as much as 90%.
ETI Chief Executive Dr David Clarke said: “Given the required speed of roll-out, cost and complexity of the future CCS infrastructure in the UK, having a consistent approach for supporting planning and investment decisions will play a crucial role in ensuring a practical, cost effective and robust network of assets.
“Modelling can potentially support decisions at a number of levels, from strategic planning through to plant and system operation and maintenance which is why it is vital that we develop a modelling tool-kit that covers all areas of carbon capture and storage.”
The tool-kit will be of use to companies owning or developing CCS systems, technology suppliers and policy makers who need to understand the issues around overall CCS system operation.
The ETI already has two projects in its CCS programme, one carrying out a review of potential sites suitable for storing CO2 offshore and another carrying out a detailed study of the availability and distribution of mineral deposits across the UK and technologies that could be used to economically capture and permanently store carbon dioxide emissions.
The ETI is also investing in the region of £25m to develop a world-leading next generation capture technology to a stage where it has completed full scale demonstration by 2015 and ready for adoption into full scale commercial power applications by 2020. The ETI is currently working with selected bidders and expects to launch the project in 2010.
