CO2 storage underneath the North Sea turns out to be not only technically feasible, but also cost effective according to research conducted on behalf of Havenbedrijf Rotterdam, Gasunie, and Energiebeheer Nederland. Part of this CO2 can be used for the greenhouse horticulture sector.
Research shows that trapping and transporting CO2 and storing it deep underneath the North Sea is technically feasible. It is also cost effective in comparison with other measures contributing to realizing the government's climate goals. The three companies have researched whether a next step in the project can be taken based on technology, market situation, environment, costs, policy and societal acceptance. The result was positive.
Collection tube
This is called the Porthos project, which is short for Port of Rotterdam CO2 Transport Hub & Offshore Storage. The concept for this CCUS project (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) consist of a collection tube through the port area in Rotterdam functioning as a base infrastructure companies can connect to supply the CO2 they have collected.
Greenhouse horticulture
The CO2 is then partially used by the greenhouse horticulture in South Holland to speed up the growth of plants. The main part is transported by tube to an empty gas field about 25 kilometers from the shore underneath the North Sea, where it is pumped deep underground in the closed sandstone reservoir which used to contain the gas. It is expected that for this project in Rotterdam 2 to 5 million tons of CO2 can be stored here annually.
Climate agreement
To meet the Paris climate agreement the government has decided upon a number of measures which have to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. Besides the measures aimed at the growth of sustainable energy sources, closing down coal plants, using residual heat and geothermal energy, isolation and efficiency in the process industry, the government also want to stimulate CO2 collection, transport and storage of CO2 in empty gas fields.
The CO2 is then partially used by the greenhouse horticulture in South Holland to speed up the growth of plants. The main part is transported by tube to an empty gas field about 25 kilometers from the shore underneath the North Sea, where it is pumped deep underground in the closed sandstone reservoir which used to contain the gas. It is expected that for this project in Rotterdam 2 to 5 million tons of CO2 can be stored here annually.
Climate agreement
To meet the Paris climate agreement the government has decided upon a number of measures which have to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. Besides the measures aimed at the growth of sustainable energy sources, closing down coal plants, using residual heat and geothermal energy, isolation and efficiency in the process industry, the government also want to stimulate CO2 collection, transport and storage of CO2 in empty gas fields.
These measures will help the Netherlands to meet the reduction targets of 2030, but will not be sufficient. For this reason the government expressly chose for the deployment of collection and storing CO2. In the Climate Agreement the amount of CO2 reduction through CCUS will be determined and executed through agreements between the government, the industries, and the NGOs'.
Execution
In the coming months Havenbedrijf, Gasunie, and EBN will focus on the financial and technical foundation of the project. The decision to invest in the CCUS project is expected in 2019.
Source: Port of Rotterdam