Study of logistics solutions for CO₂ from capture facilities at Returkraft to ships for further transport for permanent storage

Returkraft has studied CO₂ capture technologies since 2019 in studies managed through the Eyde Cluster and is running a pilot capture plant from May 2023.

This project will study technical solutions for handling and transporting CO₂ from the outlet of a future capture plant at Returkraft to the CO₂ is loaded onto a ship for transportation to injection for permanent storage.

The main building blocks are:
– Gas cleaning and liquefaction
– Transport from Returkraft to Kristiansand port
– Intermediate storage
– Loading to ship

The study will compare the alternative forms of transportation:
– Truck and railway transport of liquid CO₂
– Pipeline transport of gaseous CO₂
– Pipeline transport of liquid CO₂

The Project have developed Capex and opex estimates for each individual building block, including prices for the different transport alternatives: Each transport method is also evaluated based on their individual risk, based on complexity, government processes and CO₂ footprint. The study is clear in its recommendation to use trucks as transport solution.

In the study we also investigated the possibility for either a local or a regional cooperation with the aim of establishing a common intermediate storage hub prior to transport to permanent storage. Although there is a lot of interest in future cooperation, the different sources with CO₂ emitters are not well aligned in a schedule perspective which makes formal early cooperation difficult. Because of this, Returkraft’s volume is used as base case, but this part of the study will continue as the CCS project moves forward.

Discussions will continue locally with the aim of establishing a local transport hub in the Kristiansand region, where more emitters can join when they are ready. If cost reductions will be achieved over time common solutions and cost sharing with others is the key.

Returkraft have led the studies for CO₂ handling at Returkraft and transport to Kristiansand port, while Kristiansand port have led the study of intermediate storage and loading of liquid CO₂ on the CO₂ transport ship in phase one of the project. Capex and opex for an intermediate storage and quay with loading arrangements have been established. When the study showed that finding a suitable location within Kristiansand port area was difficult, the study went into a new phase two with the aim to work with local industries to find a suitable location in an already existing industry port.

Both for the studies for regional cooperation and for phase two of finding a location for the intermediate storage, the work has been done in close cooperation with the Eyde Cluster.