Carbon capture from gas power

Background
Carbon capture from gas-fired power generation is one of the most rapidly deployable approaches to
large-scale CO₂ reduction, combining the reliability of regulated power production with deep
decarbonisation. Ocean-Power AS has developed the Blue Power concept – a floating combined-cycle
gas turbine power plant with fully integrated post-combustion carbon capture based on amine
technology. The plant is designed to deliver 200–220 MW net electrical output to coastal industry and
offshore customers, with CO₂ captured, compressed and delivered for permanent storage.

The now-completed feasibility study builds on an initial concept study carried out with Carbon Circle
AS and Techouse AS in 2024. In addition to carbon capture, power generation and steam generation
through heat recovery, this study also includes barge design prepared by Brevik Engineering AS. The
study confirms technical as well as commercial feasibility and provides the foundation for the next
phase towards a final investment decision.

Goal
The study had five main objectives:
• Verify and detail the technology for carbon capture from floating gas-fired power generation
• Identify technical and operational challenges
• Define measures to reduce risk and increase safety
• Estimate costs and assess competitiveness
• Develop a business case for investment

All objectives have been achieved. The feasibility study confirms that carbon capture from a floating
gas-fired power plant is technically viable and commercially sound. The concept is ready for further
development towards front-end engineering design and investment decision.

Activities
The study was carried out by a multidisciplinary consortium led by Carbon Circle AS (process design,
layout and project management), with Techouse AS (heat recovery), Brevik Engineering AS (barge
design and marine systems) and DNV AS (independent verification and HAZID).

Key activities included:
• Complete system design with flow diagrams, heat and mass balances and equipment lists for
carbon capture, CO₂ treatment and the steam cycle
• Barge design including stability calculations, structural strength analysis and weight estimates
• Vendor evaluation for major equipment, including CO₂ compressor, seawater pumps and
coolers. Siemens Energy supplies gas turbines (SGT-800), steam turbine (SST-600),
generators, transformers, E-house and automation and electrical scope
• HAZID workshop with DNV – action log, risk/safety report and mitigation plan prepared
• Smart solutions for space saving evaluated
• Cost estimates and profitability assessment prepared

Results
The feasibility study confirms that carbon capture from a floating gas-fired power plant is technically
feasible and commercially viable. The concept is ready for further development towards front-end
engineering design and investment decision.
• Technically verified: fully integrated carbon capture with ≥95 % capture rate from gas-fired
power generation on a 147×60 m barge with 200–220 MW net power export from Siemens
turbines (3×SGT-800 and 1×SST-600)
• Climate impact: approx. 800,000 tonnes CO₂ captured per year – equivalent to the annual
emissions of approximately 500,000 passenger cars
• Compact design: the entire power plant with carbon capture fits on a barge the size of a
football pitch. The study has documented smart solutions for space saving that significantly
reduce the offshore footprint
• Structural integrity: barge design with a total lightship weight of 23,123 tonnes has been
verified through stability and strength calculations for all load cases, including worst-case
scenarios
• Safety assured: the HAZID workshop with DNV AS confirmed that the risk picture is
manageable. The mitigation plan demonstrates that the concept can be made safe within
applicable regulations
• Commercially viable: the profitability analysis shows that the project is commercially viable,
and a CAPEX estimate has been prepared as the basis for the investment decision

Further Work
Further early-phase engineering activities are planned. These will include:
• Further development of concept and system design for floating carbon capture from gasfired
power generation, development of P&IDs, HAZOP
• Design for safe handling of the amine solution, drainage, spills, flushing, filling, emptying, etc.
• Project execution philosophy, location(s) for fabrication of modules, barge and integration
• Further activities building on the safety and risk report
• Further detailing of the CAPEX estimate and profitability analysis

The focus so far has been on making the solution standardised so that it can be used at different
locations. In further work it may be necessary to carry out a technical/economic feasibility study with
project-specific adaptation to location, infrastructure and local environment.

Publications
Ocean-Power communicates regularly about the concept via its website, LinkedIn and press releases.

Technology Readiness Level (TRL)
The technologies for floating gas-fired power generation with carbon capture are mature, but
challenges remain related to costs, infrastructure and large-scale implementation. Carbon capture
from Blue Power Kråkøya combines several established technologies in a new way.
• Amine-based carbon capture systems are in operation at land-based plants worldwide and
are considered mature technology, TRL 9. Solutions and designs adapted to maritime
conditions have been developed by several players but have not been tested under real fullscale
operating conditions, which is a parameter for achieving TRL 7. Full-scale operation at
Kråkøya will advance the technology from TRL 5–6 and subsequently to TRL 8 (commercially
operated solution) according to Innovasjon Norge’s TRL scale.
• Gas turbines on floating installations have been in operation on offshore installations for
several decades and are a mature technology, TRL 9.
• Floating platform design is well established in the oil and gas industry, TRL 9.

The innovation in the feasibility study and main project lies not in the individual components alone,
but in the integration of the technologies listed above, circular resource utilisation and modular scaleup
– which together create a new category of relocatable and industrial energy sources that are not
yet widespread.

Intellectual property rights (IP)
Ocean-Power does not develop its own technology but assembles technology from technology
suppliers into the concept of floating gas-fired power generation with carbon capture and storage. The
project builds on the technology development of the technology suppliers and their regimes for testing
and validating the technology.