Aker Clean Carbon, which delivers CO2-capture technology and together with Aker Solutions plans to build and install carbon capture facilities at coal and gas power plants and other CO2 emission sites around the world, has signed its first international contract.
In November 2007 the UK Government announced a competition to build the first carbon capture facility for a coal-fired power plant in the UK. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed in 2014. The project also includes establishing transport and permanent storage solutions for CO2. in addition to building the capture plant.
The UK government has today pre-qualified four industrial consortia to take part in the final stage of the competition.
ScottishPower, the UK energy group, is among the pre-qualified entrants and has chosen ACC as the technology provider for the CO2 capture plant. Aker Solutions is going to build the plant, according to the plan. The consortium also includes Marathon Oil, the US energy group.
- This is an international breakthrough for us. This is the first full-scale project where the whole value chain, from capture to transport and storage, is included from the beginning, said Jan Roger Bjerkestrand, Chief Executive Officer of Aker Clean Carbon.
- The project is of particular importance to us because our largest market internationally will be C O2-capture of coal power plants.
Aker Clean Carbon changes the order of priorities in Norway.
In Norway, Aker Clean Carbon has decided to stop the construction of a CO2 capture demonstration plant at Kaarstoe in Rogaland. The main reason is uncertainty about required steady supply of flue gas.
The gas power plant that was meant to provide the flue gas has not been in operation since its completion in the autumn of 2007, and there is great uncertainty about the regularity of future supply of flue gas. It has also proved difficult to gain access to alternative flue gas from the nearby gas terminals
"It has been extremely difficult to establish reliable sources of flue gas at Kaarstoe, and we therefore want to focus on other projects," said Mr Bjerkestrand.
-Following the pre-qualification in the UK, our main ambition is to win the competitions to build a capture plant at the European CO2 Test Centre at Mongstad and a full-scale capture plant at Kaarstoe. The work related to the demonstration plant at Kaarstoe has given us valuable experience that will be used in the planning and execution of building these and other capture plants, said Mr Bjerkestrand.
-These activities will be strongly supported by an ongoing R&D programme to develop more energy effective chemicals for the capture process. This programme is executed in cooperation with SINTEF, the independent science research group, and NTNU, the Norwegian university of science and technology,. These two institutions have more than 20 years of experience within these subjects. The programme will last for 8 years and has a budget of NOK 317 millions. Aker Clean Carbon will receive public finance support under the CLIMIT-programme for the first phase of the project.
-We have already tested several solvents and one is now ready for use. Aker Clean Carbon is aiming to reduce significantly the cost of capturing CO2. Developing better and more energy effective and environmentally friendly chemicals is an important factor to achieve this, said Mr Bjerkestrand.
For more information, please contact:
Geir Arne Drangeid, Senior partner and EVP, Aker ASA; +47 913 10 458
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About the companies:
ScottishPower
ScottishPower is one of UK's top 6 integrated energy providers. The company has electricity networks in South and Central Scotland, Merseyside and North Wales and some 5.2 million energy customer accounts. Its power generation assets include the Longannet and Cockenzie coal plants in Scotland and a number of gas fired stations in England. Its sister company, ScottishPower Renewable Energy Limited, is the UK's largest wind power generator.
Marathon Oil
Marathon Oil Corporation is an integrated international energy company engaged in exploration and production; integrated gas; and refining, marketing and transportation. Marathon is based in Houston, Texas, and has principal operations in the United States, Angola, Canada, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Indonesia, Ireland, Libya, Norway and the United Kingdom. Marathon is the fourth largest United States-based integrated oil company and the nation's fifth largest refiner.
Aker Clean Carbon
Aker Clean Carbon was established in 2007 by Aker ASA and Aker Solutions ASA to accelerate the commercialisation of CO2 capture technology. The company has 19 employees and is owned 70 percent by Aker and 30 percent by Aker Solutions. The company has so far invested about NOK100 million in developing its own capture technology, and has engaged about 160 engineers, many from Aker Solutions.
Aker Clean Carbon is part of Aker, a Norwegian industrial holding company with 36 000 employees and operations in 35 countries within the power and energy, maritime, seafood and marine biotech industries.