Bio Energy with Carbon Capture and Drax Power Station

Bio Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)

• BECCS combines bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (CCS)
• The process aims to remove CO2 from the atmosphere
• Biomass is used as a fuel source
• CO2 emissions are captured and stored in geological reservoirs
• BECCS has the potential to remove 20-70 million tonnes of CO2 per year in the UK by 2050

Drax Power Station

• Drax Power Station is a fossil fuel and wood pellet power station built in 1974
• Primary energy source is coal and wood pellets
• Electrical output is 3960 MW
• Energy input is 11,250 MW
• Efficiency is 35%
• Annual carbon footprint is 22.8 million tonnes
• Set up costs are £1.25 billion
• Fuel costs per MWh are £25.10
• Project lifetime is 2023, or potentially longer if carbon capture and storage is implemented
• Decommissioning costs are £15 million
• High environmental impact due to carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide production
• High reliability

Drax History

• Drax was the largest coal-fired power station in the UK
• It peaked at 4,000 megawatts
• It symbolized Britain's industrial might in the 1980s-2000s
• Drax made upgrades to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions in the 2000s
• It transitioned to biomass (burning sustainable wood pellets) between 2012-2020
• It became the largest renewable energy plant in the UK
• Drax plans to implement BECCS technology
• Largest single renewable energy generator, contributing to 5% of UK electricity generation (approximately £150 per MWh)

Drax Biomass Enterprise

• Drax Biomass Enterprise includes a tree growing nursery, working forests, a saw mill and pellet plant, and ports and logistics.
• These components facilitate sustainable wood pellet production for the power station

CCS Potential

• The UK has 70 billion tonnes of potential CO2 storage space.
• The National Grid's Net Zero Future Energy Scenarios (FES) propose the use of BECCS by 2028
• The UK Climate Change Committee believes BECCS will be needed to meet 2050 emission reduction targets
• Drax could develop two BECCS units by 2030, potentially delivering 40% of the negative emissions for the UK to reach net zero.

Greenhouse Gas Removal Methods

• The UK Committee on Climate Change explores methods for removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere

Forests and better forest management

• Forests have been used for carbon storage for centuries
• It is relatively low cost to store carbon
• Planting trees could significantly reduce carbon dioxide levels
• It takes time for trees to grow mature (at least 10 years)
• Forests could negatively affect biodiversity

Peatlands and Wetlands

• Peatlands and wetlands are another method for storing carbon
• It is relatively low cost to restore these for storing carbon and to store carbon for a potentially long time
• However understanding of the carbon storage process is incomplete
• Restoration is limited to areas of the UK that are suitable.

Enhancing the storage of carbon in soil

• Soil carbon enhancement methods are well understood and can be implemented immediately.
• This method could potentially be low cost.
• This process could have positive economic and environmental benefits.
• Changes to modern farming practices are required to support this.

Using wood in construction

• Wood has been used in construction for a long time so adapting current construction processes may be a relatively low-cost solution for storing carbon.
• Wood-based construction reduces carbon emissions compared to other materials
• However, modern buildings may need to be smaller, which may require changes to building practices.
• The scale of this solution may be limited by the availability of sustainable wood

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS)

• BECCS combines bioenergy and carbon capture and storage (CCS) to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
• BECCS offers several advantages:
  • Significant carbon capture
  • Storage space in the UK (e.g., oil and gas fields)
• Possible disadvantages:
  • High costs, potentially in the start
  • Land may be required for other activities, such as farming, therefore may need to be well managed or considered with other solutions
  • Safe storage needs to be ensured

Direct air capture and carbon storage

• Direct air capture (DAC) is a relatively new technology, still under development
• Offers significant carbon dioxide capture potential, with diverse technological options
• Lots of storage space is in the UK, specifically in oil and gas fields
• High current costs, but costs may decrease as technology develops

Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)

• Combining bioenergy and carbon capture to remove CO2.
• Drax aims to become the world's largest BECCS.
• Currently, pilot projects are running worldwide
• Issues include:
  • Policy and Funding Challenges.
  • Technological Risk
  • Investment and Market Support
  • Energy Intensive Process
  • Infrastructure Needs
  • Public Perception and Acceptance

CCS

• Methods of carbon capture include pre-combustion capture, post-combustion capture, and oxyfuel combustion
• Costs for CCS vary across different methods:
  • 32% for gas plants
  • 65% for coal-fired plants

Transportation

• Methods for transporting CO2 to storage sites include pipelines and ships.

Storage: Geo Sequestration

• CO2 is stored underground in geological formations, such as saline aquifers

Pros and Cons

• Advantages*
• Plant emissions reduced significantly (more than 80%)
• Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx) are also reduced
• Disadvantages*
• Technology is unproven
• Increased fuel emissions
• Increased energy costs
• High water use

UK Government investment

• £22 billion over 25 years
• Funds allocated to Industrial Clusters & Pipelines, Power Generation and Operational Subsidies, Direct Air Capture (DAC), Innovation and Technology Development, Private Sector Support & Co-Investment Monitoring and Long-Term Maintenance, and International Collaboration.

CCS Credentials

• A history of overpromising and underdelivering CCS capacity.
• Current CCS capacity is only 80% of the captured CO2 is reinjected into oil fields
• Only two commercial-scale coal plants currently have CCS (Boundary Dam and Petra Nova)
• More complex to capture CO2 from gas power plants than coal plants
• Blue hydrogen projects have been abandoned

Alternative Allocation

• The plan for alternative investment strategies. This topic is not fully developed in these notes.

Review

• A summary section including Drax Power Station, the history, biomass, CCS, UK government plans and alternative plans.

Explore the intersection of bioenergy, carbon capture, and the Drax Power Station. This quiz delves into BECCS technology, its environmental impact, and the historical significance of Drax. Test your knowledge of how these elements contribute to CO2 reduction efforts.