Bio-inspired innovation: trend-setting and future-proof, CO2-negative project seeks investors who want to significantly improve their CO2 foodprint

Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) -based bioenergy with CO2 capture and Sequestration (BECCS)

A cooperation project between Arne Knöchel, Stefan Max Garzarolli and COBIOM

Introduction

If global warming is to be limited to 1.5 degrees, CO2 will likely have to be removed from the atmosphere to offset unavoidable emissions from agriculture and industry. This is shown in the special report published in 2018 by the IPCC. The European Commission also expects that “negative emissions” will be necessary for the declared goal of a greenhouse gas-neutral Europe by 2050. Various ways of removing CO2 from the atmosphere should, therefore be investigated – including bioenergy with carbon dioxide capture and storage (BECCS). *(1)

What is BECCS

The term bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) describes a process of CO2 separation and storage, in which biomass is burned in industrial processes, in order to subsequently remove the resulting carbon dioxide to deposit and save. In the context of the climate crisis, BECCS is seen as a theoretically promising procedure, the application of which should contribute to achieving the two-degree target from the Paris Agreement. * (2)

What is CLC

Chemical looping combustion (CLC) is an innovative concept that offers a potentially attractive option to capture CO2 with appreciably lower thermal efficiency penalties when compared to the traditional approaches. *(3)

Innovation

In contrast to traditional approaches, CLC represents a cheaper and more effective method of CO2 separation. With this technology, it is possible to reduce the cost per captured ton of CO2 from currently 80-100 Euro to an estimated 30-40 Euro. *(4)

The Project

This project deals with the realisation of a technical and methodical prototype for testing and optimising the economic efficiency of CLC-based BECCS.

Realisation

This prototype will be realised by using bark beetle-damaged dead wood from Thuringian forests and an existing decommissioned 32 MW CLC plant called GobiGas in Gothenburg. In the future, the CO2 will be stored in reservoirs such as Porthos, Northern Lights, Aberdeen, Drax and Northgate et. al. In this way, proof of the economic efficiency and scalability of this technology could be provided in a short period of time typical for this kind of project.

Project steps and time schedule 

Concept phase

1. 1. Creating a sustainable business model for CLC based BECCS
   2. Creating a sustainable value chain for CLC based BECCS
   3. Creating a sustainable supply chain for CLC based BECCS
      1. Evaluation and testing of a climate-neutral CO2 transport and subsequent storage
         1. Evaluation of possible alternatives to storage under the earth like CO2 upcycling or
      2. Evaluation and testing of climate-neutral Biomass transport and subsequent storage
   4. Get funding for the concept study

The goal in terms of the value chain, supply chain and business model would be to make them circular.

Evaluation and POC (Proof of Concept) phase

1. 1. Recommissioning of the CLC system
   2. Test runs with different types of biomass
   3. Test runs of the plant under load
   4. Test of CO2 transport and storage

Realisation period 1.5 – 2.5 years

Investment costs

The investment costs for the realisation of this project amount to approx. 10 – 15 million Euro depending on the recommissioning costs of the CLC plant and the costs for CO2 storage.

Literature/Resources

1. translated from: (Gernot Klepper, Daniela Thrän, Schriftenreihe Energiesysteme der Zukunft, Ausgabe Feb 2019)
2. (Wikipedia, Definition of BECCS)
3. (Akeem Olaleye, Meihong Wang, Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, 2014)
4. (Stefan Max Garzarolli, Arne Knöchel with reference to Prof. Anders Lyngfelt)

German version:

Bio-inspirierte Innovation: zukunftsweisendes, CO2-negatives Projekt sucht Investoren, die ihre CO2 Bilanz maßgeblich verbessern wollen

More about bio-inspired innovations:

Biomimicry: Innovationen inspiriert von der Natur