Gas-FACTS: Gas - Future Advanced Capture Technology Options - Consortium proposal by Cranfield, Edinburgh, Imperial, Leeds and Sheffield

The Gas-FACTS programme will provide important underpinning research for UK CCS development and deployment on natural gas power plants, particularly for gas turbine modifications and advanced post combustion capture technologies that are the principal candidates for deployment in a possible tens-of-£billions expansion of the CCS sector between 2020 and 2030, and then operation until 2050 or beyond, in order to meet UK CO2 (carbon dioxide) emission targets. Gas CCS R&D is an emerging field and many of the concepts and underlying scientific principles are still being 'invented'. But on-going UK infrastructure investments and energy policy decisions are being made which would benefit from better information on relevant gas CCS technologies, making independent, fundamental studies by academic researchers a high priority. In addition, the results of this project will provide an essential basis for further work to extract the maximum research benefits from the UK CCS demonstration programme and help to develop more advanced gas CCS technologies for a second tranche of CCS deployment. The programme will also develop rigorous assessment methods and a framework to maximise pathways to impact that could support other RCUK research activities on gas CCS. Globally, there is already interest in gas CCS in Norway, California and the Middle East, and this is likely to become more widespread if cheaper gas leads to more widespread use.

This work will be undertaken through work packages with the following aims:

WP1: To quantify the scope of gas turbine modifications to improve the technical, environmental and economic performance of integrated CO2 capture on CCGT plants. Small gas turbines will be modified to run with steam or recycled flue gas replacing some of the normal air feed to increase back-end CO2 concentrations (which will help make the CO2 easier to capture).

WP2: To quantify through modelling and experimental testing the scope for improving post-combustion capture system performance on CCGT plants through a combination of advanced liquid solvents, including novel amine mixtures, and improved transient performance. Solvents that are used to take up CO2 and then release it in a pure form that can be stored underground will be modified so that the amount of energy required to do this is reduced. The equipment the solvents are used in will also be designed to turn on and off quickly to allow CCS power plants to compensate for fluctuations in output from wind turbines.

WP3: In close collaboration with an external Experts Group to undertake integration and whole systems performance assessments. This will include a 'Gas-FACTS Impact Handbook' combining impact tables with state-of-the-art surveys to ensure that pathways to impact pursued by Gas-FACTS researchers are co-ordinated with other significant activities, including excellent science and stakeholder plans, to maximise their effectiveness. Gas-FACTS results will be implemented in the freely-available IECM package for access by any potential users.

WP4: Impact delivery and expert interaction activities will be based on establishing an Experts Group including representatives of the UK CCS academic community, global academic community, UK policymakers, UK Regulators, NGOs, power utilities, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises). WP4 will also run a programme of engagement activities to impact, including project meetings, specialist meetings on topical issues and results, web-based dissemination and document publication (reports, responses to Parliamentary inquiries, journal papers, articles etc.)

Who might benefit and how:

UK CCS Research Centre/UK CCS academic community
Research Programme that attracts interest from a wide range of other users, delivers significant results and serves as a basis for additional research including extended gas CCS research and complementary topics.

Global academic community
Contributions to state-of-the-art science (e.g. ideas and research tools that can be applied to current problems or stimulate additional research). Benchmark results. System concepts they can partially modify to include alternative capture technologies.

UK Policymakers
Expert group able to provide reliable evidence base to inform analysis used for strategic decisions on UK energy mix and role that gas CCS may play in it.

UK Regulators
Technical advice to develop and maintain fit-for-purpose regulation and guidance, including on capture-readiness and best available technology.

NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations)
NGOs typically have very small analytical teams in-house, so availability of reliable, independent advice and expertise that can help to inform priorities for campaigns (and, hence, civil society influence) is particularly important.

Power utilities
Analytical techniques and up-to-date reviews of promising developments to support and extend competence as 'informed buyers' of gas power plants.

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)
Identification and development of novel design and integration concepts that can inspire product adaptations and other development activities.

SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises)
Potentially similar to OEMs, but availability of initial academic research particularly important to identify focus for developments with limited budget.