UKCCSRC Spring 2025 Conference – Parallel 1b – CO2 Transport (ECR Meeting Fund)

Joshua Gray (Newcastle University), Aliyu Ibrahim Nagidi (University of Hull) and Shadab Alam (Teesside University) share their takeaways from the “Parallel 1b – CO2 Transport” session at the UKCCSRC Spring 2025 Conference.

The UKCCSRC conference brought together experts and industry leaders to discuss the latest developments in carbon capture and storage (CCS). One particularly insightful session focused on CO₂ transport, a critical aspect of the CCS value chain. The session featured presentations on biogenic CO₂ recovery (Raphael Pfaeltzer, The Carbon Removers), technoeconomic assessments for transport strategies in industrial clusters (Prof Sergey Martynov, UCL), and industry innovations in CO₂ compression and movement (Joseph Rainey, Howden).

Joshua Gray, Newcastle University

I particularly enjoyed the first talk given by the COO of The Carbon Removers highlighting the recovery of biogenic CO₂ in CCUS, particularly from industries like whisky production, biomethane processing and wastewater treatment. In the UK, biogenic CO₂ is being recovered, purified and sold to the food and beverage industry, where it’s being used for carbonation, packaging and also converted into dry ice, with one of the largest UK dry ice manufacturers relying on this source. Importantly, unlike fossil-derived CO₂, biogenic – i.e., derived from biological processes – makes it a more sustainable feedstock for carbon removal initiatives.

A key advantage of the process utilised by The Carbon Removers is its relatively low energy requirement. Unlike conventional CO₂ capture from industrial flue gases, these modular systems recover CO₂ in liquid or gaseous form without requiring significant heat input. These small-scale recovery units, typically handling 2-50 kilotons per annum, offer flexibility and can be transported via ISO-tanks on lorries for further distribution.

Aliyu Ibrahim Nagidi, University of Hull

CO₂ transport plays a key role in ensuring captured CO₂ is delivered to storage sites in a safe and cost-effective manner. The talk by Sergey Martynov focused on a study that examined different options for sustainable CO₂ transport within industrial clusters and I found this very interesting as it relates closely to my research area. A case study of the North Sea Port industrial cluster was presented from an environmental and techno-economic perspective taking into account liquefaction, compression, transport (shipping/pipeline) and storage. Liquefaction and compression contribute around 41% and 53% on average in terms of environmental impacts respectively. This is largely driven by energy requirements for these processes. The carbon intensity of the energy source plays a huge role and, as such, utilising renewables can significantly reduce the environmental impact of the process.

In comparison to shipping, CO₂ transport via pipelines is more cost effective especially when deployed within industrial clusters with access to shared infrastructure. Again, pipeline transport is dominated by operational costs driven by energy required for CO₂ liquefaction and compression. Although cost is an important factor, other considerations such as safety, public acceptance and operational risks are equally important in decision making when developing CO₂ transport infrastructure.

Joseph Rainey from Howden spoke about a range of solutions for CO₂ handling for various CCS options including point source carbon capture (PSCC), direct air capture (DAC), CO₂ separation, transport, utilisation and storage. I found the session very informative particularly in relation to direct air capture. Their portfolio of products meets different pressure requirements ranging from just under 1bar for PSCC to above supercritical pressure (73.8bars).

For DAC, rotary adsorption machines (RAM) and direct air capture fans that are highly efficient and can be scaled up for large scale CO₂ capture from ambient air. They also offer solutions which includes blowers, centrifugal, screw and reciprocating compressors for CO₂ separation and processing. Depending on the area of usage, the compressors are capable of handling varying volumes of flow at pressure of up to 300Mpa.

Dr Shadab Alam, Teesside University

Raphael Pfaeltzer from The Carbon Removers presented on capturing and monetizing biogenic CO₂, highlighting the economic advantage of targeting biogenic CO₂ sources, which naturally contain over 60% pure CO₂, compared to post-combustion capture (10-15%) or direct air capture (merely 0.04%). The presentation featured a compelling case study from Invergordon, Scotland, where they are capturing CO₂ from whisky distilleries. This captured CO₂ is transported via ISO tanks and supplied to various end-users, including food and beverage applications, dry ice manufacturing and partners who permanently carbonate CO₂ in building materials.

Professor Sergey Martynov from University College London presented research on techno-economic assessments for CO₂ transport strategies in industrial clusters. His presentation emphasized the need for large-scale CO₂ transport infrastructure to meet the goal of capturing 1 GT_CO2/annum. Prof. Martynov compared various transport modes, noting that pipelines offer continuous operation and large capacity but require high upfront investment; road transport provides flexibility with low capital costs but has limited capacity; railways offer cost-effectiveness where infrastructure exists; and ships provide route flexibility but are limited to waterway locations. Prof. Martynov concluded that CCUS clusters represent an effective approach to reducing investment risk and achieving economies of scale. Selecting optimal transport solutions requires balancing cost against geographical constraints, safety considerations, environmental impacts, societal acceptance and deployment speed.

Joseph Rainey from Howden showcased their specialized equipment designed for the full CCUS value chain. Joseph detailed how their product portfolio addresses specific needs at each stage of the carbon capture process: turbo blowers and centrifugal/axial fans for the initial capture phase, screw, and centrifugal compressors for intermediate CO₂ storage applications. Howden’s direct air capture fans were highlighted as a key technology supporting the growing DAC sector, demonstrating how established engineering firms are adapting their core competencies to meet the specific requirements of emerging climate technologies.

Key takeaways:

1. Biogenic CO₂ capture presents an efficient, low-energy method for recovering and reusing CO₂ in commercial applications.
2. Pipeline transport remains the most economical solution for large-scale CO₂ movement, though alternative methods like barges offer flexibility.
3. Industry innovation in compression and modular transport is making CO₂ handling more scalable and accessible.

Attending this session shed light on the critical role CO₂ transport plays in achieving net-zero goals. As technologies evolve and infrastructure expands, ensuring that methods for CO₂ transport can be integrated within industrial clusters will be vital to the success of CCS initiatives in the UK. The insights from these talks reinforced the importance of collaboration between industry and academia in shaping the future of CCUS.