Apr 09, 2008 | Amsterdam Nuon starts construction of CO2-capture test installation
Nuon is the first energy company in northern Europe to build an innovative test installation for CO2 capture at its power plant at Buggenum (in the Dutch province of Limburg). Nuon has signed a building contract with Spie Controlec Engineering bv. All the permits have been issued and the construction will start before the summer. The installation will be in operation in the second half of 2010 and then the CO2 capture will begin.
The purpose of the installation at the power plant in Buggenum is to make the method suitable for use in the electricity sector. Nuon plans to use the knowledge and experienced gained to install large-scale CO2 capture at the planned Nuon Magnum power plant in Eemshaven, near Groningen. The trial in Buggenum will probably take two years and requires an investment of around 40 million euro.
Proven technology
Although CO2-capture technology has been applied for the last 50 years in the petrochemical industry, CO2 capture in combination with gasification of coal and biomass in the energy sector has never been used before. Thanks to the trial, Nuon will build up knowledge and gain experience of innovative solutions for reducing CO2 emissions. By using CO2 capture and storage Nuon is supporting the Dutch government’s strategy for achieving the climate targets.
Cleaner alternative
"The power plant in Buggenum offers excellent opportunities for testing CO2 capture because fuels are gasified there already,’ says Øystein Løseth, CEO of Nuon. ‘This makes it possible to capture CO2 before the combustion process. Nuon is the first company in northern Europe to use this technique. The main advantage is that it’s a cleaner alternative than post-combustion capture. In addition, it’s more efficient, somewhat cheaper and the installation take up less room. We are proud that we are able to carry out this trial in Limburg and hope to be able to apply the technology in Eemshaven as well."
Research & development
A substantial research programme is linked to the project in Buggenum. The organisations involved are ECN, TNO, Delft University of Technology and KEMA. Nuon has received a subsidy of 10 million euro for this purpose via the Unieke Kansen Regeling (UKR – Unique Opportunities Scheme) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Among other things, this scheme stimulates innovative ways of capturing CO2.
Innovative power plant
Of all the forms of electricity production from fossil fuels, coal gasification in combination with biomass is, along with natural gas, currently the least polluting. In the future, when coal is used in combination with biomass and CO2 capture at Nuon Magnum, a power plant will be created that is unique in the world. The plant is likely then to emit 2 to 2.5 million tons less CO2. a year. This is roughly equivalent to 800,000 passenger vehicles.
The construction
To restrict the building activities at the site, the test installation is to be constructed in five big parts. The components will be transported mainly by water. The individual parts will be joined together in Buggenum.
About Nuon
Nuon is an ambitious energy company, serving more than three million consumers and organisations with over 10,000 employees in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Nuon produces, transports and delivers electricity, gas, heating and cooling, and engages in energy trading in the major international markets. Nuon also supplies additional services and technological innovations to businesses and consumers. In doing so, Nuon aims to provide a reliable, sustainable and affordable energy supply.
With a turnover of EUR 6.1 billion in 2008, Nuon occupies a prominent position in the Dutch energy market. The shares are held by local and regional authorities.
Effective 1 July 2008, Nuon was split into a network company and a production and supply company. The two companies now operate independently under a financial holding company and a joint Board of Directors and Supervisory Board.