Part 3
Projects & Landmarks
Energy / Landmark

ECCSEL ERIC

European Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage Laboratory Infrastructure

Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage technologies to enable low to zero CO2 emissions

description

The European Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage Laboratory Infrastructure (ECCSEL) aims at opening access to a European Research Infrastructure with high-quality research facilities devoted to next generation Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies in an efficient and structured way to help enable low to zero CO2 emissions from industry and power generation to combat global climate change. ECCSEL has implemented, operates and develops a distributed, integrated RI based on a selection of the best research facilities in Europe for Carbon capture, transport and storage. ECCSEL opens access to researchers from universities, research institutes, industry and SMEs from Europe and beyond.

Conceived and included in the ESFRI Roadmap 2008, ECCSEL was established as a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) in June 2017. ECCSEL ERIC started operation with five initial European founding Member countries – France, Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom and Norway, hosting the Operations Centre.

activity

Fourteen facility owners in currently five ECCSEL ERIC Member countries offer open access to more than 55 world-class research facilities across Europe. More facilities and member countries are planned to be included in the future. ECCSEL covers a large range of research areas relevant for capture, transport, storage and use (selected technologies) of CO2. This includes fabrication and testing of polymer-based membranes, absorption kinetics studies, solvent degradation, thermodynamics studies, solvent production, chemical looping combustion facility, high pressure absorption, ultra-low permeability media, rock engineering, geo-mechanical testing, hydrothermal studies, gas monitoring, CO2 injection, meteo-oceanographic physical and geochemical studies, marine biology, double loop circulating fluidized bed reactor system, high-pressure oxy-fuel combustion facility, coal to hydrogen generation pilot plant, gas-phase densities and gas-phase composition, thermo-gravimetric measurements under high pressure, and studies of microbiological and geochemical processes. A number of current facilities are being upgraded and some new facilities are currently being constructed. Further future extensions and new facilities are being planned too. ECCSEL ERIC has created a research strategy and a facility roadmap based on the analysis of current research and facility gaps. This guides and coordinates member countries’ and facilities’ upgrades and new investments.

ECCSEL facilitates fundamental and applied research leading to commercial applications. It enables its users to act commercially in the knowledge market in various ways: i) engineering and technology companies may promote their newest ideas and solutions based on research and innovation in the forefront of the technological development; ii) plant owners and industries may increase knowhow to invest in state-of-the-art technologies.

impact

ECCSEL ERIC operates a world-class distributed CCS Research Infrastructure that offers access to conduct research, enabling researchers to generate substantial knowledge which can lead to new innovative solutions – more efficient products, processes and services related to CCS – and thereby help to address societal challenges like climate change and secure energy supply. ECCSEL raises the technological level of European industry and SMEs, improving their competitiveness through their involvement in instrument and technology development and service provision.

It helps to maintain Europe at the forefront of the international CCS scientific community making the European Research Area more attractive for European and international scientists, and reinforces cooperation between research institutions. ECCSEL also helps provide insight into the social and economic impact of European science.

type
distributed
legal status
ERIC, 2017
political support
lead country
NO
members countries
FR, IT, NL, UK
prospective member countries
CH, EL, ES
The full list of research institutions involved must be found in the website of the RI
timeline
Roadmap Entry
2008
Design Phase
2008-2010
Preparation Phase
2011-2014
Interim/Transition Phase
2014-2015
Implementation/Construction Phase
2015-2030
Operation Start
2016
estimated costs
capital value
1.000 M€
design
Not Available
preparation
10 M€
construction
100 M€
operation
0.85 M€/year
headquarters

ECCSEL ERIC
Trondheim, Norway