The primary source of human CO2 emissions is the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil) for energy and transportation, although certain industrial processes and land-use changes also produce CO2. Burning any carbon-based fuel converts carbon into carbon dioxide which then goes into the atmosphere. This leads to increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. One solution to prevent this from happening is to capture and store the CO2.
There are a myriad of different approaches to address the effects of global warming but removing CO2 from a mixture of gases and then storing it away from the atmosphere is the main aim. After chemical processing, the gas mix could be an industrial exhaust, the air passing a collector, or the combusted exhaust from a power plant. Wherever the gas mix originates and whatever the concentration, the CO2 can be captured, typically by chemical means and concentrated. The CO2 is then ready for use or storage, and this is the point where it can be meaningfully measured.
Measuring is essential when paying by the tonne for emissions or saving by the tonne for emissions captured. CO2 emissions are becoming increasingly more monitored, charges by mass released are increasing each year and the scope of regulations are expanding. It is more important now than ever to measure your emissions.
Fiscal metering standards, accepted by the Oil and Gas regulators for many years across the globe, are the clear standards to follow for CO2 capture. From 2015 and onwards, Swinton Technology has been delivering fiscal metering systems for CO2 measurement on Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage projects (CCUS and CCS). By accurately measuring the quantity of CO2 and the purity of the gas, metering supervisory computers have these figures available for reporting and audit inspections. The industry standards for reporting gas metering are followed for CO2 as stringently as they are for the highly regulated hydrocarbons.
Captured CO2 from either an industrial, power generation or environmental source is the metered gas. This can be sent to an industrial process, a long-term storage facility, or used in a further hydrocarbon extraction process. In whatever fashion the CO2 is used, its value can be realised, and this is done by metering the flow streams. The flowed tonnage can be reported by using gas analysers to determine the CO2 and contaminants' content. This can then be used to offset other CO2 producing activities or be traded with other entities seeking to offset their actions.
Other applications for metering of captured CO2 add a value separate from the legislative incentives. The captured CO2 can be used in further hydrocarbon extraction and reduce the net emissions from hydrocarbon use. When CO2 is stored in long-term reservoirs, often owned and operated by entities other than the CO2 producers, metering allows for auditable custody transfer. Also, metering can act as detection for gas leakage. If consumed in an industrial process, the quantity and quality of CO2 supplied will be key metrics for the value of the delivered materials.
Carbon Capture and Storage is increasing in importance across the world. Having the right tools to measure CO2 quantity is something Swinton Technology has been doing as gas, cryogenic and pressurised liquids for years. Through our solutions, CCS projects can be confident that they are reducing CO2 emissions.