A new generation of technologies for the capture and sequestration of CO2 is on its way

Capture and sequestration of CO₂, new technologies for a low-carbon future

Innovative, more efficient and low-cost technologies, able to capture over 90% of CO₂ emissions, based on the use of non – polluting, inexpensive substances.

Fossil fuels plants with yields over 50% - including the capture of CO₂ – and high operational flexibility.

These are some of the results of the ENEA’s activities carried out on CCS technologies -the capture and sequestration of CO₂ produced by fossil fuels- presented at the third of a series of conferences on the Electrical System Research within the Program Agreement with the Ministry of the Economic Development.

The overriding objectives are decarbonization, innovation, efficiency, cost reduction.

CO₂ capture costs weigh heavily on fossil fuels plants and the ENEA’s activities, targeted at cost reduction and yield increase of capture and sequestration technologies, concern the development of high-yield energy cycles, CO₂ capture and high operational flexibility, in order to offset load fluctuations related to renewables and also the production of fuels and “chemicals” from CO₂, in systems integrated with renewables.

There’s more. Researchers at ENEA, in collaboration with the Sulcis Technology Hub, are developing more advanced techniques allowing improved energy and environmental performances, such as the main CO₂ capture and sequestration  pre-, post- and oxy- combustion technology chains and the subsequent geological sequestration, developed and demonstrated in important experimental infrastructures.

Recently ENEA and SOTCARBO, within the activities of the Sulcis Technology Hub, have started working at the demonstration on a large scale, of an innovative combustion technology that uses pure oxygen, which has the advantage to cut every type of pollutant and produce CO₂ in a concentrated form, easily separable by condensation of water vapor and ready for geological sequestration.

The 50MW pilot plant, to be constructed in Sardinia, would constitute a demonstrator of the new all Italian made technology at a global level.

“In order to ensure a low-emission future for our planet, it’s necessary to focus also on CO₂ capture and sequestration technologies” said Stefano Giammartini of ENEA, “that, together with other green technologies and technology efficiency, could play a vital role in achieving the EU’s climate objectives”.

The transition toward an economy marked by a  massive use of renewable energy sources is going to be a gradual process, still relying on conventional fuels, also considering the problems related to the sustainability of the grid.

ENEA, within the research program financed by the Ministry of the Economic Development under the Agreement, is developing a range of innovative technologies for the sustainable use of fossil fuels for the production of electrical energy and chemical products as well as for industrial applications in the main energy consuming sectors, large producers of CO₂.

For more information please contact:

Stefano Giammartini, Casaccia Research Center, stefano.giammartini@enea.it