BECCS (Bio energy with carbon capture and storage) is a technique for permanently removing biogenic CO2 from the atmosphere. The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) identify the technique as one of the priority actions for accelerating the energy system’s transformation. The Beccs Stockholm project is divided into three phases with the objective to operate the BECCS facility in full scale.
Beccs Stockholm is Swedish district energy provider Stockholm Exergi’s large-scale Bio-Energy Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) project. Beccs Stockholm’s goal is to create a world-class, full-scale BECCS facility at Stockholm Exergi’s existing heat and power biomass plant in the heart of Stockholm. Combining CO2 capture with heat recovery, Beccs Stockholm will capture and permanently store large quantities of biogenic CO2, resulting in carbon removal from the atmosphere and creation of so-called “negative emissions”. The Beccs Stockholm project has potential to remove around 7 million tons of CO2 over the first ten years of operation, an important component of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. In addition to producing concrete climate benefits, Beccs Stockholm is also intended to accelerate the development of a new market for net carbon removals. Firstly, the Beccs Stockholm technology can be replicated in other sites. Secondly, it has the potential to be scaled up across the economy by replicating the technology in other industries. Finally, by contributing to the establishment of all necessary links in the CCS value chain in Northern Europe, Beccs Stockholm is an important early adopter that has potential to lead many other CCS projects to follow suit. Beccs Stockholm was one of seven projects selected to receive funding from the European Union’s Innovation Fund under grant agreement no 101051202. The EU Innovation Fund is one of the world’s largest funding programs for the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. It will provide around EUR 20 billion of support over 2020-2030, aiming to bring industrial solutions that decarbonize Europe to the market and support its transition to climate neutrality.
BECCS (Bio energy with carbon capture and storage) is a technique for permanently removing biogenic CO2 from the atmosphere. Only during the first ten years of operation Beccs Stockholm will contribute to 7.83 Mt CO2e of absolute Green House Gas emission being removed from the atmosphere. Due to Beccs being a highly efficient, long-term method for storing CO2 is it considered as a vital step in reaching the EU-objective of Climate Neutrality by 2050.
The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) identify the technique as one of the priority actions for accelerating the energy system’s transformation. Additionally, it highlights the importance of the technique becoming cost-effective and gaining public acceptance, to eventually be commercially developed. Beccs Stockholm who are already active within the field, will be an important actor in paving the way to other actors to follow along and create a net carbon negative markets – a crucial step towards climate neutrality.
The Beccs Stockholm project is divided into the three following phases: the Pre-Engineering Phase, the Construction Phase and lastly the Operation Phase.
The Pre-Engineering Phase is the first phase, covering the initial 27 months of the project. At this stage the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) activities will be finalized. In addition, the environmental and building/construction permits will be obtained, in order to eventually reach financial close and TG2 decisions.
The Construction Phase covers the next 34 months of the project. Initially, at this stage a tax for capturing and storing CO2 will be negotiated and brought forward. Besides, the detailed project plan will be put in practice, and the construction and installation activities will begin within all facilities. The target within this phase it to reach hot and cold commission activities and conduct performance testing in order to eventually receive permission to move into the next stage and implement in full-scale.
The Operation Phase is the final stage, covering the next ten years. The main objective at this stage is to operate the capture facilities with full capacity meeting the annual CO2 capture target as per Grant Agreement. In parallel, activities related to knowledge-sharing, replication, scale-up, public acceptance and dissemination will be running.
Out of 311 applicants, the European Union selected seven large-scale projects to invest over €1.1 billion under the Innovation Fund. Essentially the grant aims to catalyse the development of break-through technologies consolidating a market within energy-intensive industries, hydrogen, carbon capture, use and storage and renewable energy.
The Beccs Stockholm Project being one of the chosen projects within carbon capture was assessed on its high potential for greenhouse gases emissions avoidance, degree of innovation, project maturity, scalability and cost efficiency. Apart from Beccs Stockholm, the selected projects are located in Belgium, Italy, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain as well as an additional in Sweden.
