Endesa Starts up First Plant to Capture CO2 by Chemical Absorption in Span

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.endesa.es/Portal/en/press/press_releases/our_companies/endesa/2010/270410captureCO2aminas.htm

ENDESA STARTS UP FIRST PLANT TO CAPTURE CO2 BY CHEMICAL ABSORPTION IN SPAIN.

• The facility, set up at the company’s Compostilla plant in León, has a capture capacity of 3-5 tonnes of CO2 per day, with 90% efficiency.


• Capture is achieved by chemical absorption using amine-based solvents.

ENDESA is leading the operation of the experimental CO2 capture plant using chemical absorption, which has been installed at its Compostilla plant in León. It is the first CO2 capture pilot plant integrated into a thermal plant in Spain.

The plant treats 800M3/h of combustion gases and has a capture capacity of 3-5 tonnes of CO2 per day, with efficiency of 90%.

CO2 is captured through the counter-current contact of combustion gases with an absorbent amine-based solvent at a low temperature. During the process, the CO2 combines only with the amine, separating it from the gases. The amine is then recycled in a second reactor using steam-generated heat, producing highly concentrated CO2.

ENDESA will analyse the process over the coming months with a view to optimising capture efficiency and the energy consumed in the process. Different operating conditions for the plant will be assessed, along with different sorbents and chemical additives to make the process for efficient.

This initiative forms part of ENDESA’s commitment to spearhead a new, global and sustainable energy model in its target markets via five key lines of action: renewable energies; new technological developments which help lower CO2 emissions, energy efficiency and cogeneration opportunities, a sustainable transmission model and offsetting of emissions via a CDM portfolio. These objectives are fully integrated into our business strategy and outlined in our 2008-2012 Sustainability Plan.

ENDESA is also currently involved in the development of seven CCS-related R&D projects. The company is also present in the European Zero Emissions Platform (ZEP), Eurelectric, the Spanish CO2 platform CO2 (PTECO2), the Spanish CO2 Association (AECO2) and headed the CENIT– CO2 project, which was sponsored by the CDTI and involved a large number of Spanish companies.