Introduction
Heavy industry & energy plants account for more than 65% of all human-activity related CO2 emissions in metropolitan areas. In order to drastically reduce these emissions and limit the effects on climate change, Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) is one of the most promising technologies that combines high-impact with relative low cost. Despite its promise, only 65 CCS projects are currently operational worldwide, due to the many challenges they face during design. Our CCS network integrator is a crucial missing piece in the design and operation of CCS clusters that are cost effective, efficient & scalable. It enables multiple emitters to share infrastructure & resources in the CCS supply chain resulting in lower cost per ton captured CO2. Because of its scalability, it helps metropolitan areas to lower carbon emissions significantly at a relatively low cost to industry & society. As the technology of CCS is readily available, its impact can be realized in the near future and can be used for decades until cleaner technologies become available as alternatives to supply household & industry with the necessary energy.
How to accurately estimate the costs of your Carbon dioxide Capture and Storage supply chain?
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the process of capturing waste carbon dioxide (CO2), usually from large point sources, transporting it to a storage site, and depositing it where it will not enter the atmosphere, normally an underground geological formation. Due to the high investment and operating costs for CCS supply chains, this technology has not been widely adopted, but this is bound to change as emission rights become more expensive. Pipelines in combination with marine transport of liquified CO2 are seen as an effective solution for CCS that is both flexible, as well as capable to economically move large volumes to a storage site. Accurately predicting the network's costs is crucial in making the best design decisions for the supply chain. Given the network interaction, variability, storage requirements and operating policies, simulation is a great technology to accurately predict the supply chain cost range for various design choices.
Carbon capture & storage supply chain
To minimize the impact of climate change, global industry is tasked with a major challenge to reduce CO2 emissions. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is the process of capturing waste carbon dioxide (CO2) usually from large point sources, such as a chemical production facility or biomass power plant, transporting it to a storage site and depositing it where it will not enter the atmosphere. This is normally an underground geological formation, such as deep saline formations or former gas/oil fields. For example, the top 10 emitters in the Netherlands are responsible for more than 50% of the industry's total emission.
CCS is a potential means of mitigating the contribution to global warming and ocean acidification of CO2 emissions from industry and heating. Due to the high investment and operating costs for CCS supply chains, this technology has not been widely adopted, but this is bound to change as emission rights become scarcer and more expensive.
CCS Network Integrator
Systems Navigator has developed a modelling framework for analyzing new CCS supply chains using Scenario Navigator, called the CCS Network Integrator. It is meant to support new initiatives for CCS by providing detailed analysis capabilities required for the design and optimization of CCS projects.
How does the CCS Network Integrator work?
The Network Integrator is an easy-to-use environment that allows for rapid modelling & simulation of a CCS supply chain. Different users can analyze their supply chain in terms of efficiency (how much carbon will be captured in total, or by emitter) and cost (cost per ton captured & stored, setup & operational). By analyzing different network settings, users can analyze the usage of infrastructure & resources in the supply chain, discovering bottlenecks as well as underutilized equipment. This can drive further network design by changing capacities (for intermediate storage, liquefaction, or transport), or network changes (in terms of mode of transport, or the number of emitters and/or consumers). As the CCS Network Integrator is completely transparent to all parties in the supply chain, optimization benefits can be shared amongst all parties. Communication between all parties involved can be facilitated around a shared model, resulting in a quicker acceptance and realization of a CCS cluster project.
Where can we find more information about CO2 supply chain modelling?
Systems Navigator is an independent software consultancy firm with headquarters in Delft, The Netherlands. We are a global leader in advanced decision support technology. Since 2003, our team is working around the globe for a wide range of customers on the most challenging projects.
Members can download the whitepaper here.
Non-member can request the whitepaper here.
To learn more about CO2 supply chain modelling or Systems Navigator, please contact our office at +31 (0) 15 750 1030, email us or visit the website at www.systemsnavigator.com/carbon-capture-storage-supply-chain-simulation.