Electrabel, E.ON Kraftwerke and Hitachi intend to cooperate in a joint research project. Target of the project is to design, build and operate a test facility to investigate the behaviour of different solvents in the process for CO2 capture from flue gases. The main aim of the project is the execution of scrubbing tests under real flue gas conditions with different chemical solvents.
The test facility shall be able to treat up to 5,000 Nm³/h flue gas under real conditions and shall be operated during four years alternatively for periods of 12 to 24 months on a site of Electrabel and a site of E.ON Kraftwerke. The pilot installation can move to locations in Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium or other European countries whatever is technically most interesting.
Hitachi Power Europe will be responsible for the design, set up and the operation of the test facility and put at disposal sufficient shift personal for operating the test program. The test facility is a part of the global Hitachi R&D strategy for Power Systems. Targets are increase of efficiency especially for turbine and steam generator and on the other side CO2 capture and reduction of emissions in general. Hitachi Power Europe is active in most relevant European and national research initiatives and collaborates very close with German Universities which are active in the field of materials, process improvement and CO2 capture for climate protection.
Electrabel and EON Kraftwerke will integrate the test facility in their power plants as to perform the test programs under real conditions. The relatively large scale of the test installation will deliver reliable data as to allow scale-up.
In order to reconcile competitiveness, security of energy supply and the fight against climate change, the utilities Electrabel and E.ON Kraftwerke are basing their strategy on a diversification of energy sources and sustainable and flexible solutions. Electrabel and E.ON Kraftwerke want to maintain also in future a high fuel flexibility that currently characterizes its electric power plants. In this framework, they are interested in building knowledge and hands-on experience in Post Combustion Capture, to improve this process and prepare for possible subsequent scale-up for Post Combustion Capture on new to build or existing plants.
Electrabel is today one of the best-in-class electricity producers for limitation of CO2 emissions per kWh (report PwC - Enerpresse - Le Quotidien de l'Energie). With this pilot project, the company is clearly showing its intention to keep its leading position in terms of limitation of CO2 in the future.
E.ON intends to halve their specific CO2-emissions per kilowatt-hour by 2030 in comparison to 1990. In order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from coal power plants significantly E.ON plans to build coal power plants from 2020 applying carbon capture and storage technology (CCS). At the moment E.ON is involved in 44 projects concerned CCS. The investment therefore amounts to 55 million Euro.
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