Wind and solar power generation Europe Wind and solar power generation in Europe is expanding rapidly, driven by technological advancements, cost reductions, and large-scale renewable energy projects across multiple countries.

Industrial carbon capture technologies are the starting point of the CCUS value chain, responsible for separating CO2 from the large volume of flue gas emitted by industrial processes. While a variety of techniques exist, the European industrial landscape primarily utilizes three main categories: Post-combustion, Pre-combustion, and Oxy-fuel Combustion.

Post-combustion capture is the most widely applicable to existing industrial facilities (like cement or steel plants) and power stations. It involves scrubbing the CO2 from the flue gas after the fuel has been burned, typically using a chemical solvent (most commonly amine-based). Its advantage is that it can be retrofitted, but its disadvantage is the high energy penalty required to regenerate the solvent and the need to process a gas stream with relatively low CO2 concentration.

Pre-combustion capture is suitable for processes like gasification, where the fuel is converted into a synthesis gas (syngas) before combustion. The CO2  is then separated at high pressure and concentration before the final combustion step, resulting in a purer, more concentrated CO2 stream and a cleaner hydrogen fuel.

Oxy-fuel combustion involves burning the fuel in a mixture of oxygen and recycled flue gas instead of air. This produces an exhaust stream that is mostly CO2  and water vapor, which is easy to separate by simply condensing the water. The main challenge here is the energy-intensive and costly process of producing pure oxygen.

Innovation in the sector is focused on developing advanced solvents and solid sorbents that require less energy for CO2 release, as well as membrane separation and cryogenic capture methods, all aimed at reducing both the capital cost and the operational energy penalty of the capture step.

Industrial Carbon Capture Technologies: FAQs
Which carbon capture technology is most suitable for retrofitting existing plants?
Post-combustion capture is the most versatile for retrofitting, as it is installed at the end of the industrial process flue gas stream.

What is the main challenge associated with traditional chemical-solvent capture methods?
The main challenge is the significant energy penalty required to heat the solvent to release the captured CO2  for purification and compression.

What is the core principle of oxy-fuel combustion capture?
The core principle is burning the fuel in pure oxygen instead of air, which results in a highly concentrated CO2 and water vapor exhaust stream that is easier and cheaper to process.

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