Veolia and Carbon Clean announce first carbon capture trials

Veolia is set to become the first UK operator of Energy Recovery Facilities (ERF) to demonstrate the latest carbon capture technology with Carbon Clean, a global leader in low-cost carbon capture technology.

Veolia and Carbon Clean have been working in partnership for four years, and this new joint project will highlight how the latest patented technology can effectively work on Energy from Waste (EfW) plants.

Veoilia currently operates 10 ERFs that transform approximately 2.3 million tonnes of non-recyclable waste into electricity, powering over 430,000 homes. Through district heating networks, some of these facilities also produce heating for communities. With domestic heating contributed to an estimated 20% of the nation’s carbon emissions due to a lower standard of energy efficiency, using this type of non-fossil fuel heating reduces carbon emissions, and can help reduce costs and fuel poverty.

The most recent Carbon Clean application is significantly smaller than other technologies, which makes it suitable to retrofit applications such as ERF, extracting and purifying CO2 from combustion flue gas emissions. A specific solvent has been developed to extract CO2 from the industrial gases, which is then compressed and / or liquified, which can be permanently stored of used in industry, contributing towards the circular economy.  

Potential applications of captured carbon include: building materials such as concrete, production of organic chemicals to make up solvents, synthetic rubber and plastics and used in greenhouses to boost plant growth.

Gavin Graveson, Executive Vice President of Veolia, said: “This projects marks another significant step forward for the industry by making it possible for Energy Recovery Facilities to contribute to the environment through lowering carbon and delivering landfill diversion, grid resilience, district heating and carbon capture. By using the potential of non-recyclable waste to generate energy and support communities, we can power the low carbon cities of the future.”

CEO of Carbon Clean, Aniruddha Sharma, added: “We are delighted to be partnering with Veolia to deliver on our shared goal of decarbonising the Energy from Waste sector. The partnership with the operating experience of Veolia will help us bring the cost of carbon capture to $30 per tonne, which will accelerate the take-up of the next generation modularised technology across the sector and beyond.”

Find out more here.