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Carbon capture technologies are vital for reaching carbon neutrality by 2035. Launched at the turn of this year, the EU funded project HERCCULES demonstrates the utility of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) solutions. The CO2 captured in the project will be delivered to two permanent storage sites in Italy and Greece.
The focal technology for the HERCCULES project, Calcium Looping (CaL), is developed by Sumitomo SHI FW (SFW). The technology will deliver a solution to match the decarbonization objectives of the hard-to-abate industrial sectors. SFW's mission is to power a decarbonized world for everyone, leveraging the company’s extensive experience of delivering over 800 commercial fluidized bed plants.
SFW has traditionally developed, designed and delivered combustion systems for industry and power plants, including waste-to-energy plants. Today, SFW is focused on providing solutions for the decarbonization of industries that have high carbon dioxide emissions, including cement, steel, and power.
In the HERCCULES project, CaL creates added value for industrial plant operators in the form of circular economy applications, decarbonizing energy generation and enabling sector coupling opportunities. In an essence, CaL addresses scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions throughout the value chain.
CaL is a flexible solution to capture more than 90% of emitted CO2 while providing synergy with green hydrogen plants. Biogenic CO2 can be directed for low-carbon fuel and material production where the by-product oxygen is used to capture CO2 . The solution also generates green electricity and lime as by-products.
The CO2 capture plant will be installed at the Milan Silla-2 waste-to-energy plant, owned and managed by a2a Ambiente, a member of the a2a group. The plant is one of the largest Italian waste management facilities that handles around 550 000 tons of municipal solid waste and non-hazardous special waste per year. The demo plant will operate for up to 4 000 hours and conclude with commercial scale activities.
SFW will adapt the plant design to optimize performance and footprint specific to the site conditions. The delivery will include the commissioning, operation and training of the facility personnel. In addition, the calcium oxide by-product from the demo will be collected and sent to act as a low-carbon raw material in cement and concrete manufacturing.
a2a's goal is to reach Net Zero by 2040. To achieve this goal, a2a is engaged in various research activities aimed at identifying and developing the most promising technologies for carbon capture utilization and storage. a2a chose to work with SFW’s Calcium Looping technology as we believe that it can play an important role in our decarbonization process,
About HERCCULES project
The HERCCULES project has the combined strength of 23 partners from nine European countries (Italy, Greece, Finland, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Ukraine and Estonia). The HERCCULES project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
About SFW
Sumitomo SHI FW (SFW) is a global provider of solutions and services that drive the decarbonization of energy. Our solutions include energy from biomass and waste, long duration energy storage, recycling of waste to valuable end products, carbon capture, flue gas cleaning, waste heat boilers, as well as related services to digitalize, optimize, and decarbonize assets that we deliver to the global power and industrial markets. We strive to provide sustainable energy solutions for customers in a wide range of industries including energy, waste, chemicals, metal, sustainable fuels, cement and pulp and paper. SFW’s excellence in delivering projects worldwide relies on our 1,800 talented people, across 20 locations in 14 countries, with deep know-how and experience in the industry. Powering a decarbonized world for everyone. For more information, please visit Sumitomo SHI FW at shi-fw.com.
About a2a
A2a SpA is an Italian multiutility listed on the Stock Exchange, with about 13,000 employees, the Group manages the generation, sale and distribution of energy and the sale and distribution of gas, district heating, the waste cycle, electric mobility and smart services for cities, public lighting and the integrated water service. Sustainability is at the heart of A2A's industrial strategy: in order to promote the country's sustainable growth and make the energy transition and the circular economy a concrete reality, the industrial plan envisages 16 billion euro of investments to 2030 in projects aligned to the UN Agenda and the achievement of net zero by 2040. www.gruppoa2a.it