19.03.2024
Source: Energy & Management Powernews
How to deal with CO2 that cannot be avoided in industrial production? The German Cement Works Association proposes a pipeline network.
In the lime and cement industries in particular, the production of carbon dioxide as part of the manufacturing process cannot be prevented. The chemical industry and waste incineration plants also produce unavoidable CO2 emissions. In a study, the German Cement Works Association (VDZ) has now investigated options for capturing, storing and using the greenhouse gas (CCS, CCU).
VDZ President Christian Krell comments: "The development of a CO2 infrastructure in Germany is essential for these industries. To achieve this, companies need a CO2 pipeline network by 2035 at the latest." The background to the demand for rapid implementation is the fact that cement manufacturers - like other industries in the EU - are also expected to produce largely climate-neutrally by 2040.
In the study "Requirements for a CO2 infrastructure in Germany - prerequisites for climate neutrality in the cement, lime and waste incineration sectors", the VDZ examined what a German CO2 pipeline network could look like. The study presents the unavoidable CO2 emissions to be expected and analyzes how the short, medium and long-term transport requirements will develop and how a corresponding infrastructure must be designed.
"Cement manufacturers in the starting blocks"
According to the VDZ, the decisive factor for the transport requirements is the development of CO2 capture over time. "Many cement manufacturers are in the starting blocks with their capture projects - what is missing is the national legal framework and a suitable transport infrastructure," explains VDZ Managing Director Martin Schneider in an association press release.
In the central scenario of the study, the annual CO2 transport requirement for climate neutrality is 6.5 million tons in 2030, around 13 million tons in 2035 and 35 million tons in 2040.
"Germany is also called upon to contribute to the development of a European storage infrastructure and to take responsibility for its own CO2 emissions. The draft of the Carbon Dioxide Storage and Transport Act (KSpTG) is very promising here, as it is intended to enable offshore storage in Germany and pipeline transport," said Schneider.
The VDZ study estimates the investment required to build a German CO2 pipeline network with a length of 4,800 kilometers at 14 billion euros. This results in costs for pipeline transport of 25 to 35 euros per ton of CO2. Transport by rail over distances of more than 500 kilometers is expected to cost between 35 and 60 euros per tonne.
Electricity consumption quadruples
In addition to infrastructure development, the VDZ study also considers energy consumption for CO2 capture, which is extremely high. The demand for electricity from renewable sources for climate-neutral cement and lime production will therefore increase to almost four times the current level - from 4.7 billion kWh to around 17 billion kWh. In addition, thermal energy would increase by 20 percent.
The plans to dispose of CO2 in natural gas deposits under the sea have been criticized by the environmental organization WWF. They say that the infrastructure required for this would torpedo marine conservation. Instead, the economic exploitation of the oceans should be reduced and measures for the conservation of species and habitats should be strengthened.
The entire VDZ study "Requirements for a CO2 infrastructure in Germany" is available to download free of charge.
Previous plans for the CO2 grid
A CO2 starter grid is - as reported - part of a feasibility study in southern Germany. It is to run from Rosenheim to the Upper Bavarian chemical triangle to Burghausen and then on to Austria in the direction of Linz. Together with cement manufacturer Rohrdorfer, network operator Bayernets is currently examining the construction of an 80-kilometre pipeline to transport carbon dioxide to the chemical triangle, where it can be used in production.
Further stages envisage the expansion of the network to the west towards Munich, Augsburg and Ulm as well as a connection to Ingolstadt.
In the north of Germany, transmission system operator (TSO) Open Grid Europe (OGE) is also planning a CO2 network. Initially, a total length of 1,000 kilometers is planned. The Wilhelmshaven site is to serve as the hub: From here, the carbon dioxide could be piped to extracted natural gas fields in the North Sea and injected there.
Author: Günter Drewnitzky
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