LNG for the future “Zero Emission LNG Regasification Terminal”

LNG Regassification Terminal with zero emissions to water or air” was developed and patented as an internal study in Aker Solutions.

The background for the study is:
Stricter requirements worldwide to reduce emissions to air (especially focus on CO₂) and water. Increasing demand for natural gas has resulted in a significant increase in planned LNG (liquefied natural gas) reception and regasification terminals.
Aker Solutions aims to drive technology development based on its own products and to build competence around studies related to carbon capture and storage. Based on this, Aker Solutions has been working on the regasification concept since 2006.

“LNG Regassification Terminal with zero emissions to water or air” integrates LNG regassification with oxygen combustion (oxyfuel) for steam generation and CO₂ separation. Previous studies indicated that this concept could be attractive and innovative compared to existing regasification terminals.

In this project, an overall process assessment and a more detailed technical documentation and assessment of the patented process have been carried out. In addition, an evaluation of alternative concepts has been carried out with the aim of identifying less complex and cheaper designs than the patented process.

The overall process evaluation of the patented LNG regasification concept with CO₂ capture indicates that the concept is comparable in price with existing LNG regasification terminals that do not have CO₂ capture. The preliminary evaluation of five possible alternative concepts for LNG regass terminals with CO₂ capture concluded that the patented concept was the most favorable concept. However, the choice of concept will depend on many factors. Some of the alternative concepts were competitive compared to the patented concept, but the critical factors that determine the choice of concept are linked to the current location of the LNG regasification terminal and the time of implementation.