The European Commission stated in February 2024, that it aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, compared to 1990. The cement industry contributes about 4% to Europe's total greenhouse gases. Many of these emissions are unavoidable, therefore the cement industry has to use Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) to meet these targets.
The research questions of this work focus on the minimum CO2 purity and the necessary pressure and temperature for pipeline transport of CO2. This work also aims to find a compromise on conditions and purity among emitters, pipeline operators, storage facilities, and users. These findings will help identifying the most cost-effective solution for reducing CO2 at the cement plant in Gmunden.
To answer the research question four scenarios were defined. All scenarios assume an initial investment in capture technology. The capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operational expenditure (OPEX) of Oxyfuel technology, an amine scrubber, membrane separation, and Pressure Swing Adsorption + cryogenic separation were compared.
Description of the scenarios:
•Scenario 1: Public pipeline; CO2 onshore storage
•Scenario 2: Construction of a pipeline to Atzbach-Schwanenstadt (approx. 20 km); CO2 onshore storage
•Scenario 3: Construction of a pipeline to Burghausen (approx. 85 km); CO2 used for CCU
•Scenario 4: Construction of a pipeline to Burghausen (approx. 85 km); Public Pipeline from Burghausen to CO2 onshore/offshore storage
In the first scenario, the total captured CO2 is fed into a public network at the plant site and transported to a storage location (CCS). In the other three scenarios, ROHRDORFER ZEMENT GmbH builds and operates a pipeline to the target location. Scenario two involves constructing a pipeline to the Atzbach-Schwanenstadt storage site, about 20 km away. Scenarios three and four involve building a pipeline to the Chemical Triangle Burghausen, about 85 km away. In scenario three, all CO2 is reused. Scenario four considers connecting to a public network in Burghausen and subsequent onshore/offshore storage.
Impurities in captured CO2 significantly impact safe transport in the CCUS chain. Low O2 and H2O content are crucial, but NOx, particularly NO2, poses major challenges due to increased corrosivity and undesirable reactions. A German standard (DVGW C260) is being developed to address this.
To make CO2 emission reductions cost-effective, coordinated efforts from politics, industry, science, and civil society are necessary. Transport costs are lower over 85 km if a public network is available. Ideally, transport to Burghausen for utilization (CCU) is the most cost-effective scenario (Scenario 3). However, this is uncertain as the CO2 must be bound in products long enough to meet EU ETS requirements.
The ideal future scenario is onshore storage in Austria. If no legal basis is created in time, storage in Germany or Denmark with a distance-independent tariff (Scenario 1) must be pursued. Clear political commitment to CO2 capture and infrastructure development for transport, storage, or utilization is essential to meet the EU's 2040 climate targets.