Energy Procedia, Volume 37, Pages 2997-3004, 2013

An Investigation into the Logistical and Economical Benefits of using Offshore Thermal Power in a Future CCS Scheme

Author(s): Björn Windén, Mingsheng Chen, Naoya Okamoto, Do Kyun Kim and Elizabeth McCaig

Abstract:
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is an increasingly popular scheme to mitigate CO2 emissions from large point sources (IPCC, 2005) Thermal Power Plants account for a large portion of the world's total CO2 emissions and are therefore the most attractive target for CCS. For a typical thermal power plant; the process would involve capturing the CO2, transporting it to a suitable location for storage and storing it in a manner that will ensure minimal leakage over a very long period of time. Due to public concerns and protests regarding storage onshore, offshore geological storage of CO2 is most likely to be used for future projects (Windén et al., 2011). The successful implementation of CCS thus depends on the feasibility of capturing the CO2, transporting it to an offshore site and injecting it deep beneath the seabed. Pilot projects such as the Sleipner rig in Norway have already proven the feasibility of using offshore geological storage and post combustion technology for capturing CO2 can also be considered mature. No long distance, large scale transportation solutions for CO2 has yet been proven to work with satisfactory results. Transportation of CO2 is thus identified as an area where breakthroughs could lead to forward leaps in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. This paper presents a study on a possible future way of solving CO2 transportation issues associated with the use of CCS.