CCUS

Politicians at both EU level and in Sweden have adopted ambitious targets to reduce our climate footprint over the coming decades. Sweden is to become climate-neutral by 2045, and the EU by 2050. By 2030 at the latest, net emissions in the EU are to be reduced by 55% compared with 1990.

The largest share of emission reductions is expected to be achieved through more environmentally friendly production. However, for a number of key industries, there are currently no realistic or cost-effective methods for reducing emissions. One alternative is therefore to capture and store the emissions that are nevertheless unavoidable.

By capturing carbon dioxide from biogenic processes, it is also possible to create negative emissions that reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In this way, companies can offset emissions generated elsewhere in their operations.

Another area of development is the possibility of using carbon dioxide in various industrial processes, for example in the production of so-called e-fuels that can replace fossil fuels. This would not only benefit the environment but also increase Sweden’s security of supply and energy independence.

The European Commission estimates that 450 million tonnes of carbon dioxide will need to be captured by 2050 in order to meet the established climate targets. By comparison, Sweden currently emits a net total of approximately 45–50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year.

More effective value chains

As infrastructure experts, Nordion Energi has taken on an important role in creating more cost-efficient value chains. Around half of the total cost of CCUS is related to transport and storage, and by collaborating on shared infrastructure these costs can be significantly reduced—by as much as half.

Nordion Energi has been involved in several projects together with emitters and potential users of carbon dioxide, with the aim of establishing shared infrastructure.

The project that has progressed the furthest is the Malmö CO₂ Hub, an intermediate storage facility for liquefied carbon dioxide located in the Port of Malmö. The hub is Sweden’s first—and only—large-scale project for shared infrastructure for liquefied carbon dioxide.

To create an efficient market, similar hubs will also need to be established in other locations. There is significant potential for carbon dioxide capture in Sweden, and many of the major emitters are located in clusters where a shared solution would create benefits for all stakeholders.