Decarbonising the UK: Anaerobic Digestion and Carbon Capture

Carbon Capture: Unlocking the Potential for Sustainable Development

Introduction

The industry for managing organic wastes has witnessed significant growth, creating opportunities for capturing and utilizing the byproduct CO2. Initiatives are now emerging to harness this potential, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by addressing climate change and promoting sustainable practices.

The Role of Anaerobic Digestion (AD)

Anaerobic digestion (AD) plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change by capturing methane. However, the use of biogas still leads to CO2 emissions. Innovations in carbon capture technologies are now opening up new markets for the AD sector, enabling the sale of CO2 for various applications or generating payments for carbon capture.

The Committee On Climate Change estimates that by 2050, around one million tonnes of CO2 could be captured annually. However, industry stakeholders believe that this figure is a conservative estimate, highlighting the significant potential for carbon capture.

CO2 Extraction from Biogas

Various techniques exist for capturing carbon dioxide from biogas. One approach involves separating carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, and nitrogen gases produced in a biomass facility and treating them with amines. The amines selectively capture the CO2, releasing the nitrogen.

Another option is retrofitting existing biogas plants to enable carbon capture during the production of biomethane. This process involves separating methane from the CO2, resulting in a nearly pure stream of CO2 without nitrogen.

A French firm, Air Liquide, has pioneered a novel approach called Cryocap, which captures CO2 produced during hydrogen-making processes. The captured CO2 is used in various industrial markets, such as the food industry and water treatment.

The EU-funded NTPleasure project has developed a process that utilizes an ultra-thin zeolite membrane to separate CO2 from biogas. Additionally, highly active catalysts have been created to convert CO2 to methane using an electrical discharge. This project has demonstrated promising results and seeks further funding for scaling its development.

Utilization of Captured Carbon

Once captured, the CO2 can be utilized in various ways. For example, Oxfordshire waste management company Grundon reacts fly ash with CO2 to produce artificial limestone pellets, effectively sequestering the carbon. These pellets are used in the manufacture of lightweight concrete masonry blocks.

Future Biogas, a Surrey-based firm, plans to build 25 new biogas plants with carbon capture and storage facilities by 2028. They currently operate 10 plants in the UK, supplying biogas to corporate customers. The separated CO2 is liquefied and transported to a carbon capture facility for storage.

In June 2021, Future Biogas signed an agreement to supply CO2 to Northern Lights, a joint venture between Equinor, Shell, and Total Energies. Northern Lights utilizes an area 2600 meters below the North Sea for carbon capture and storage, effectively returning the carbon to where it should be.

The Growing Carbon Offsetting Market

The carbon offsetting market is expected to expand as businesses strive to meet sustainability obligations. Rapidly decarbonizing operations poses significant challenges, making the purchase of carbon offsets necessary to achieve net-zero targets. Projects like the partnership between Future Biogas and Northern Lights offer accurate measurement of captured CO2 and confidence in permanent sequestration, making them attractive to responsible corporations.

Market projections indicate that the carbon offsetting market could reach £50 billion by 2030. While carbon capture projects have the potential to remove millions or tens of millions of tonnes of CO2, they are just a small part of the larger challenge of reducing emissions. However, their double benefit of producing clean energy and removing CO2 from the atmosphere highlights their immense potential.

By leveraging carbon capture technologies, industries can contribute to achieving the SDGs, particularly Goal 13 (Climate Action) and Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). These initiatives align with global efforts to combat climate change and promote sustainable development.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • Indicator: Proportion of total energy consumption from renewable sources.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
   • Indicator: CO2 emissions per unit of value added in manufacturing industries.

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
   • Indicator: Number of countries that have communicated the strengthening of institutional, systemic, and individual capacity-building to implement adaptation, mitigation, and technology transfer.

4. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts.
   • Indicator: Proportion of national exclusive economic zones managed using ecosystem-based approaches.

5. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.
   • Indicator: Progress towards sustainable forest management.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Analysis

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their corresponding targets and indicators. The identified SDGs include:

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

The article discusses the potential for capturing CO2 emissions from biogas production, which aligns with SDG 7’s target of increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The use of biogas and the capture of CO2 contribute to the transition towards clean energy sources.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The article explores innovations in capturing CO2 emissions from biomass facilities and retrofitting existing biogas plants for carbon capture. These initiatives align with SDG 9’s target of upgrading infrastructure and retrofitting industries to make them sustainable. The adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies, such as carbon capture, contributes to sustainable industry practices.

SDG 13: Climate Action

The article emphasizes the importance of capturing CO2 emissions to tackle climate change. This aligns with SDG 13’s target of integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning. The initiatives discussed in the article contribute to climate action by reducing CO2 emissions and promoting carbon capture and storage.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

The article mentions the potential impact of carbon capture on marine and coastal ecosystems. This aligns with SDG 14’s target of sustainably managing and protecting these ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts. Implementing carbon capture technologies responsibly can help minimize the negative effects on marine environments.

SDG 15: Life on Land

The article briefly touches on the use of fly ash and CO2 to make artificial limestone pellets, which can be used in the manufacture of lightweight concrete masonry blocks. This aligns with SDG 15’s target of promoting sustainable forest management and halting deforestation. The use of alternative materials, such as artificial limestone, can reduce the demand for natural resources like wood.

The specific targets and indicators identified based on the article’s content are summarized in the table above. These targets and indicators provide measurable goals and metrics to track progress towards addressing the issues discussed in the article.

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: resource.co

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