NEGATIVE EMISSIONS WITH BECCS
Since 1993, fossil carbon dioxide emissions in Växjö have fallen by 70 percent per capita. Now it's time to take the next step on the journey towards sustainability. Together we're going to ensure the right conditions for carbon dioxide removal.
According to many researchers, carbon capture is a necessary part of efforts to achieve established climate goals and halt climate change. Here at Växjö Energi, and as one of the first fossil free energy companies in the world, we want to invest in carbon capture to achieve carbon dioxide removal. The technology, referred to as BECCS (Bio Energy Carbon Capture and Storage), enables us to capture and store the carbon dioxide released when we produce electricity and heat.
On a cold winter's day in Växjö, this would mean that we can reduce the air of about 1,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, thereby lowering the level of atmospheric greenhouse gases. This is a commitment for the future Växjö Energi is willing to strive hard for.
This is a joint effort. We need to do this together if we're going to lessen our impact on the climate. And if we're not at the frontline, who will be?
200,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide – that's how much the facility will capture each year. It's equivalent to if everyone in Kronoberg and Blekinge were to permanently park their cars.
HOW IS THE INITIATIVE FINANCED?
Bio-CCS is one of the most cost-effective ways to achieve the climate neutrality that is so crucially important. However, it represents a significant investment for a single company. The details of the financing are not yet finalised, but our assessment is that it will consist of:
- Grants from the Swedish Energy Agency: We have applied for and received grants from the Swedish Energy Agency as part of the Industrial Leap initiative.
- Government support: The Swedish government is exploring an auction procedure where the state provides financial support for negative carbon dioxide emissions based on a reverse principle where the companies requesting the least support per tonne of captured carbon dioxide win.
- Voluntary market: There is currently interest from the business community in contributing to the realisation of negative emissions by purchasing negative emissions credits. More and more companies are setting ambitious climate goals and plans to become climate neutral. These companies and organisations constitute a continuously growing commercial market for negative emissions.
The road to negative emissions
Here are a couple of important project milestones.
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2024
JUNE - HPC PILOT AT THE SANDVIK PLANT
We are testing a new technology to capture carbon dioxide through a mobile carbon capture unit. The project is being carried out in collaboration with the Finnish company Sumitomo SHI FW (SFW). The pilot is scheduled to commence operations at the end of June and will continue until the end of September. The technology is known as HPC, hot potassium carbonate, and is normally used to separate carbon dioxide during ammonia production.
Read the press release here. -
2023
NOVEMBER - CONTRIBUTION FROM THE SWEDISH ENERGY AGENCY
In November 2023, our grant application to the Swedish Energy Agency was approved. The grant will cover 50 percent of the costs for technical detailed studies and environmental assessments within the project until December 2024.
March – carbon dioxide is stored in project greensand
Växjö Energi has been part of the Danish project Greensand's international sounding board. The project invests in storing captured carbon dioxide in the North Sea.
The first carbon dioxide, which was emitted from a chemical plant in Belgium, has now been stored. In the future, it is intended that more Nordic countries will be able to store carbon dioxide at the same location. Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark officially inaugurated the project, while Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, gave a speech via video link.
You can find more details regarding the Greensand initiative here -
2022
August - Växjö Energi runs a new collaborative project for carbon dioxide infrastructure
A new cluster network has been created in Southern Sweden, Carbon Network South Sweden (CNetSS), which consists of 10 different actors from different parts of the infrastructure chain; carbon dioxide emitters, logistics companies and port operators. The project is led by Växjö Energi and will contribute to creating sustainable and cost-effective solutions for a regional carbon dioxide infrastructure in southern Sweden. The Swedish Energy Agency contributes state support and the project runs in its entirety until December 2023.
31 may – the first carbon dioxide is captured in the pilot plant
Beginning of may – the pilot plant is on site at the sandvik plant
A new technology to capture carbon dioxide i now being tested. The pilot plant was installed in collaboration with, among others, Lund University and Granitor Systems. Read the press release about the pilot plant
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2021
December - Energy-efficient plant for capturing carbon dioxide begins to be built
World-leading researchers at Lund University are developing a unique method for capture and storage of carbon dioxide that uses far less energy than earlier approaches. The technology will first be installed and tested at Växjö Energi, then at two other CHR facilities in Sweden. The Swedish Energy Agency is funding the project and the project will run until 2024. More information about the project
APRIL – GRANT FROM THE SWEDISH ENERGY AGENCY
In April 2021, our grant application under the Industrial Evolution initiative will be approved by the Swedish Energy Agency. The grant will cover fifty percent of the project's start-up costs over the next two years.
February– Application to the Swedish Energy Agency
In February 2021, we submitted to the Swedish Energy Agency a grant application for our preparatory project POSCLIMB-prepare. The application concerns the long-term Industrial Evolution initiative, which aims to support the transition to negative greenhouse gas emissions.