Aker Solutions has officially opened its carbon capture plant at the CO2 Technology Center, Mongstad, which forms a basis for further development of its carbon capture technology.

Aker’s carbon capture technology will now be tested and verified in the plant. The main objectives are to verify operational parameters and to increase the technical and economical knowledge regarding operation of an industrial scale plant.

The amine plant is designed for a capture capacity of about 80,000 metric tons per annum. The plant is connected to two different flue gas sources; the combined heat and power plant with a flue gas carbon dioxide concentration of 3.5% volume and the refinery cracker with a concentration of 12.9% volume. The latter gas composition is very similar to flue gas from coal fired power stations.

A modular construction philosophy was selected for the project execution. Most of the modules were constructed and completed by Kvaerner at its yard at Stord, Norway. The modules were transported on barges for final installation at Mongstad.

A test program for standard amine and performance tests are planned before July. After these planned activities, Aker will execute a comprehensive test program over 14 months. 

As part of this program, the mobile test unit will be utilized and operated in parallel with the larger plant at Mongstad. A detailed test program is established for the two different flue gases, several amine solvents will be tested and several measurements campaigns are planned.