As countries around the world set targets to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, expectations have risen for CO2 capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). Currently, the only alternatives for recovered CO2 are either storage and processing at a disposal cost, or trading as a feedstock. To enhance viability for CO2 as an industrial input, it will be crucial to expose the current issues and challenges in the CCUS value chain and create a structure that optimizes all aspects of the supply chain process, including recovery, transport, storage, distribution, and conversion.

To achieve this goal, MHI and IBM Japan plan to utilize CO2NNEX to enhance the transparency of the CCUS value chain. Currently, CO2 is only visible at each step, such as the total amount captured, or the amount that is transported, traded, and stored. Linking and visualizing this data and providing traceability will permit verification from an investment and cost standpoint. The system will also expand the scope of CO2 utilization by matching CO2 emitters with companies who are able to use it, providing supply for new applications in such sectors as industry, agriculture, and alternative e-fuel. A more dynamic ecosystem will promote carbon neutrality, and with the early adoption of CO2NNEX and strengthening of the CO2 supply chain will accelerate global environmental protection.

CO2NNEX is a digital platform that utilizes blockchain to guarantee neutrality and fairness and ensure advanced information security, along with cloud services for rapid development and flexibility, and AI to optimize supply and demand for earlier carbon neutrality. MHI and IBM Japan will utilize their respective strengths for the development, handling the areas outlined below. Evaluation of the business is planned to begin with a Proof of Concept (PoC) for the digital platform’s verification and deployment, which will be conducted from May 2021.

MHI

MHI will draw on its technology for exhaust gas CO2 recovery and worldwide commercial installations, together with its long-established relationships with customers and knowledge regarding potential issues in the CCUS value chain, to validate the building of infrastructure in the physical world, including installing smart meters to monitor the physical volume and state of CO2 at each point in the value chain, encompassing emission, capturing, compression, transport, storage, distribution, and utilization, and effectively utilize the collected data. MHI is committed to strengthening and diversifying its CO2 capture and utilization business -- CO2NNEX is an important part of this effort, which will help ensure the energy transition's success toward realizing a carbon neutral world.

IBM Japan

IBM Japan will consider building CO2NNEX utilizing global project experiences and the IBM Blockchain Platform that allows data sharing with a high degree of safety, transparency, and reliability, and the Hybrid Cloud & AI with an arrangement of intelligent and flexible IT components to facilitate visualization, automation, and optimization of value chains. The company will also consider deploying industry consultants with a wealth of knowledge and skill in digital transformation (DX) across a range of industries to plan and verify the digital platform.

MHI and IBM Japan, centered on CO2NNEX, aim to achieve carbon neutrality and accelerate growth for industry.

Source:  MHI
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Doosan’s efforts for "clean hydrogen production," namely blue and green hydrogen, are picking up speed. With the target year set as 2022, Doosan has been working on constructing a hydrogen liquefaction plant within the complex of its Changwon plant, which will be used to produce blue hydrogen for future supply and utilization. Blue hydrogen is a low carbon-emitting hydrogen that is produced by capturing and storing the carbon emissions generated during the production of hydrogen from fossil fuels. Doosan will be applying the high-efficiency CCUS (carbon capture, utilization and storage) technology to produce blue hydrogen.

The production of green hydrogen using wind power is also well underway on Jeju island. The option of applying small modular reactors (SMRs) to produce clean hydrogen is also being reviewed. Given that renewable energy, such as solar and wind energy, and nuclear power, are all sources that emit zero carbon emissions, they are receiving attention both at home and abroad as viable energy sources for achieving clean hydrogen production.

Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction, the fifth company in the world to have successfully developed an industrial gas turbine for power generation, is now working on the development of a hydrogen gas turbine for power generation as part of its business expansion efforts. Hydrogen gas turbines use either hydrogen or a hydrogen-natural gas mixture as fuel. Since May of last year, Doosan has been working on developing a 100% hydrogen-fueled gas turbine combustor for a 5MW hydrogen gas turbine model with its technology and has also been partnering with the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) to develop a hydrogen dual-fuel combustor for a 300MW hydrogen gas turbine.

Doosan Mecatec, a subsidiary of Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction, is also venturing into the hydrogen business. In 2019, Doosan Mecatec invested in the shares of ReCarbon, a company that owns the technology for recycling greenhouse gases emitted from landfills, power plants and petrochemical plants to create hydrogen. To expedite its efforts in this area, the HPE (Hydrogen Process Equipment) business was newly established at Doosan Mecatec early this year to handle all the carbon recycling and hydrogen-related projects. Doosan Mecatec was also a part of the Dangjin Thermal Power Plant Carbon Recycling Project, a state project led by the Ministry of Science and ICT, which culminated in the recent development of the soon-to-be supplied gas separator & feeder.

In addition, in response to growing expectations for expansion of the hydrogen business, Doosan has completed the development of a hydrogen storage tank to be used for hydrogen refueling and is preparing for its commercial launch.

The South Korean government announced its Hydrogen Economy Roadmap, which outlines the goal of acquiring 8GW-scale hydrogen power generation facilities by 2040 and forecasts that the demand for hydrogen will rise from approximately 1.94 million tons in 2030 to 5.26 million tons by 2040. While the demand for grey hydrogen, which is created using fossil fuel, is expected to drop from 50% in 2030 to 30% by 2040, the demand for clean hydrogen is expected to steadily rise from approximately 900 thousand tons in 2030 to 3.6 million tons by 2040. A Doosan source remarked, "In response to the growing market demand for hydrogen, we plan to take the lead in the domestic hydrogen market by exploring various methods of hydrogen production that are linked with the company’s existing business capabilities and pursuing the manufacturing and supply of related equipment."

Terminology

* Depending on how the hydrogen is produced, hydrogen can be categorized as "grey hydrogen" when created through the steam reforming of natural gas and petrochemical process by-products or "blue hydrogen" when CCS (carbon capture and storage) or CCUS (carbon capture, utilization and storage) technology is applied to reduce carbon emissions created during the production process or "green hydrogen" when water electrolysis using renewable electricity, such as solar and wind power, is applied for the hydrogen production.

Source:  Doosan Heavy
Associated URL: Click here to visit

The peaking power station will be capable of using a blend of green hydrogen and natural gas, with the plant’s greenhouse gas emissions to be fully offset over its operational life. The new power station will deliver reliable power to around 150,000 homes, contribute $300 million to the economy and create 250 well-paid jobs during construction.

Managing Director, Catherine Tanna, said Tallawarra B will be Australia’s first net zero emissions hydrogen and gas capable power plant, with direct carbon emissions from the project offset over its operational life. EnergyAustralia will offer to buy 200,000kg of green hydrogen per year from 2025.

"We thank the New South Wales Government for its support for Tallawarra B. It means the station will be operating in time for the summer of 2023-24, following the closure of the Liddell power station, and it will help to kick start the green hydrogen industry," said Tanna.

"We are leading the sector by building the first net zero emissions hydrogen and gas capable power plant in New South Wales," she said.

"What’s particularly exciting is that further engineering studies will see if the amount of green hydrogen can increase, which will further support the Port Kembla Hydrogen Hub."

Tanna said Tallawarra B will provide New South Wales with improved energy security, reliability and flexibility options.

"Our new open-cycle, hydrogen and gas capable turbine will provide firm capacity on a continuous basis and paves the way for additional cleaner energy sources to enter the system.

"EnergyAustralia has a goal of being carbon neutral by 2050. Today we provide further evidence of another energy project that can help keep the lights on for customers with reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy."

Minister for Energy, Matt Kean, said: "This project sets a new benchmark for how gas generators can be consistent with NSW’s plan to be net zero by 2050 by using green hydrogen and offsetting residual emissions."

Source:  EnergyAustralia
Associated URL: Click here to visit