In a significant step toward advancing carbon capture technology, an innovative solvent developed through a partnership between the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) and Honeywell is set to undergo engineering-scale testing in October at the Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) in western Norway. TCM is the world’s largest carbon capture test facility, renowned for its advanced capabilities in simulating real-world conditions for post-combustion CO2 capture.
The solvent is designed to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from flue gases emitted by power plants, steel mills, cement factories, and other industrial facilities. This technology stems from a multi-year cooperative agreement, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, and managed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
Engineering-scale testing is critical in allowing technology developers to assess both technical and performance risks, while validating the scalability needed for future commercial deployment. In the current process, CO2 is absorbed into an amine solvent, separated from the solvent, and then compressed for geological storage or other uses. The technology is designed for retrofitting in existing facilities or integration into new industrial plants.
The upcoming engineering tests build on successful pilot-scale trials conducted at the National Carbon Capture Center in 2023 and UT Austin’s Separations Research Programme plant in 2022, which together accounted for approximately 7,000 hours of testing. Insights gained from extensive field tests and complementary bench-scale studies have resulted in a solution capable of capturing 95% of a facility’s CO2 emissions while managing non-CO2 emissions, reducing operational costs, and minimising environmental impacts compared to current carbon capture technologies.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), carbon capture is expected to contribute around 20% of the CO2 emissions reductions required to meet global climate goals and prevent runaway global warming. Testing and validating carbon capture technologies like this one are crucial steps in combating the climate crisis.
As the world’s largest and most versatile carbon capture testing facility, TCM offers a unique platform for the development of CO2 capture technologies. The facility’s scale and flexibility allow it to replicate real-world industrial conditions, offering a valuable environment for testing and refining post-combustion capture solutions.
Ismail Shah, TCM’s managing director said, “TCM is glad to welcome Honeywell to our amine facility. We are looking forward to testing and verifying Honeywell CO2 capture technology and efficiently achieving campaign objectives by offering TCM capabilities. Together we will support accelerating commercialisation of Honeywell’s technology.”
