Europe's largest carbon capture and storage facility begins operation in 2026

Arabia Weather - The final decisions presented give the possibility of starting construction work for the largest carbon capture and storage project in Europe, and this project is “Porthos”, which will be implemented in the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The project developers have announced that construction will begin next year, representing a huge achievement in the field of carbon capture and storage in the Netherlands.

The Porthos project requires an investment of 1.3 billion euros (about 1.38 billion US dollars), and is expected to begin work by 2026. This project is the result of cooperation between several parties, including the Dutch gas company “Gasuni” and... Dutch Energy Administration (EBN), as well as the Port of Rotterdam authorities.

Carbon capture and storage

Under this project, carbon dioxide generated from the operations of refineries and chemical plants operated by companies such as Shell, ExxonMobil, Air Liquide and Air Products will be transported to gas fields under the North Sea, which are located about 20 kilometers from the Dutch coast. In these areas, carbon dioxide will be stored 3 to 4 kilometers below the seafloor.

This measure will reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions in the Netherlands by an estimated 2%, for a period of up to 15 years from 2026. This facility is considered the largest carbon capture and storage facility in Europe, as it will be able to store about 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide. carbon annually, for up to 15 years, making the total amount about 37 million tons.

A special land transportation system will be developed for the project, and this system will enable it to receive future carbon storage projects. The developers announced that the companies involved will invest in their own capture facilities to supply the Porthos project with the necessary carbon dioxide.

The importance of carbon capture and storage in the Netherlands

Carbon capture and storage in the Netherlands is crucial, especially in the context of meeting the country's climate goals. This investment decision is a crucial starting point for future developments in CO2 storage in the Netherlands. In addition, transporting carbon dioxide is an important step in developing the infrastructure needed for the energy transition, including the transport of hydrogen, heat and green gas.

Many experts point out that carbon capture is an essential tool to contribute to the Dutch government's goal of reducing carbon emissions by 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

It is worth noting that emissions in the Netherlands decreased by up to 30% last year (2022) compared to 1990 levels, which is a positive development towards achieving the country’s goals in reducing carbon emissions.

The Netherlands has been suffering from high nitrogen emissions for years

The Netherlands' highest court had issued a ruling on August 16, 2023 allowing the construction of Europe's largest carbon capture and storage facility to go ahead, in the port area of Rotterdam, despite objections from environmental activists.

Environmental activists who brought the case argued that nitrogen oxide emissions resulting from the construction of Porthos would harm nearby nature reserves and thus violate European laws. However, the court emphasized that research conducted by the government indicates that the construction impacts on nature reserves will be limited and temporary.

The ruling stems from a long-running legal battle aimed at reducing nitrogen oxide emissions, which can negatively impact certain species of plants and animals.

The Netherlands suffers from increased nitrogen emissions due to the relatively large number of livestock and heavy use of chemical fertilizers by farmers, as well as traffic and infrastructure. In 2019, the Council of State ruled that emissions from Dutch construction companies and farmers violated European laws, and the ruling sparked widespread protests from farmers.

The government has pledged to significantly reduce emissions, but has not yet defined precisely how to achieve this.

Source: attaqa