SCOPE: Sustainable OPEration of post-combustion Capture plants

As the world starts to recognise the need to mitigate climate change and global warming, reducing carbon emissions alone is not sufficient, and many climate scientists are now looking at ways to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Several ongoing industrial projects and studies suggest that amine-based carbon capture and storage will be a major tool for reducing the carbon footprint of process industries like cement, steel and power. However, as this technology moves closer to commercialisation, the experiences of early adopters have made it clear that there are crucial risks to be addressed.

About

Sustainable OPEration of post-combustion Capture plants (SCOPE) is a new research project investigating amine-based carbon capture projects by providing critical data, methodologies, tools and governance recommendations for plant owners, supply chain partners, policy makers, civil society leaders and other decision makers.
Strengthening the knowledge base and understanding of this technology is vital as it will enable its continued development and governance in order to ensure a sustainable and environmentally safe operation of post-combustion capture plants in multiple industry sectors.

More specifically, SCOPE aims to: 

• Strengthen and expand knowledge of issues like environmental hazard identification and risk assessment.
• Establish efficient online monitoring systems and effective management guidelines for emissions control, in accordance with environmental quality and sustainability regulations.
• Close knowledge and data gaps by improving available models and validating the predictions against pilot plant data.
• Determine nationally-specific concerns regarding the impacts and management of amine-based CO2 capture and emissions, and identify the broader conditions needed to govern this technology effectively and ethically.

• Impact

  The SCOPE project aims to accelerate large CO2 capture projects by strengthening the scientific knowledge base and understanding of the technology.
  SCOPE proposes a new, multi-level approach to case studies of CO2 capture that evaluate emissions controls, regulatory frameworks, risk management strategies and the broader governance considerations for CCS. This approach can lead to more robust plant designs and operations than seen previously, and will inform key recommendations for regulators, civil society and others involved in the governing of amine-based CO2 capture. In addition, the unique needs of more diverse regions will be considered, as the case studies include the UK, Norway, the Netherlands and India.

• Further Information

  This three-year project is being carried out by an international consortium consisting of scientific, technological and political experts and stakeholders in Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, India and the United States.
  
  Dr Abigail Martin, Research Fellow in Energy Transitions at the Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School, is Principal Investigator for Work Package 4, 'Mapping state support, market readiness and civil society concerns of amine-based carbon capture, sequestration and use.’

• Project Partners

  Norway: NILU, Technology Centre Mongstad, Herøya Industripark, Total E&P Norge AS, NTNU, SINTEF AS and SINTEF Ocean AS
  UK: SPRU University of Sussex, Heriot-Watt University, Imperial College and Environment Agency
  the Netherlands: Hovyu, TNO, Twence B.V. and HVC
  Germany: Linde and RWE Power Aktiengessellschaft
  India: IP University, India Institute of Technology, Kharagpur and Microfilt India Pvt. Ltd.
  USA: National Energy Technology Laboratory and OGT

SCOPE is an ACT-funded project.

Visit the SCOPE website for more information.