The EU-funded ConsenCUS project, funded by the Horizon 2020 program, starts in early May. As a Member of the consortium, the Energy Policy Group (EPG) will propose policies to implement the project roadmap, on promoting CCUS technologies as a carbon reduction vector in Romania and the EU.
ConsenCUS is an applied research project on carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) technology, which will be carried out at European level from 2021 to 2024. In Romania, a pilot project will be implemented at the Petrobrazi refinery of OMV Petrom.
The EU’s objective of climate neutrality by 2050 is likely to include, most likely, capture carbon dioxide emissions in the industrial and energy sectors, writes the EPG in a press release. CCUS technologies are becoming essential for carbon intensive industries, including petrochemicals, metallurgy, cement production etc.
The aim of the ConsenCUS project is to propose a roadmap for a zero-emission future for industry. The partners involved in this project, by their specific activity, cover the entire carbon value chain. They will work together for four years to form a carbon-neutral cluster, thanks to the innovations they will put in place.
ConsenCUS brings technological innovation to the three main components of the CCUS: (1) carbon sequestration based on alkaline absorption coupled with an innovative electrodialysis cell design applied in exhaust gas (flow gas) from three European industrial installations; (2) conversion of CO2 into formic acid and other potential products for the local and regional market; (3) cyclic loading of carbon dioxide in saline formations, depleted deposits or aquifers for seasonal storage in addition to permanent underground storage.
Capture and conversion pathways are also innovative in terms of using only electricity and water as a consumable resource at energy efficiency standards and higher costs than the current industry. The opportunities and challenges of CO 2 clusters in the economy and in terms of social acceptability will be analyzed at selected sites.
The ConsenCUS is an international 4-years innovation initiative, supported by the EU through Horizon 2020 (H2020).
The consortium consists of the University of Groningen, New Energy Coalition, Wetsus, Coval Energy (NL), OMV Petrom, Energy Policy Group (RO), Danish Technological University, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Danish Gas Technology Center, Aalborg Portland (DK), Herio-Watt University, Robert Gordon University, OGTC Ltd, British Geological Survey (UK), Hellas Center for Research and Technology, Magneit Grecian (GR) University, Zhejiang University Shanghai Jiao Tong University (CN) and University of Calgary (CA).
The Energy Policy Group (EPG) is an independent think-tank specialized in energy and climate policies. Established in 2014, EPG brings together experts working together in international research projects. The EPG is paying greater attention to the broader context of European policies and global trends, in an attempt to promote constructive dialog among policy makers and the general public.