DNV qualifies Aker Carbon Capture offshore facility

The Just Catch Offshore modularized carbon capture facility has been DNV qualified for offshore installations. (Photo: Aker Carbon Capture)

Aker Carbon Capture has announced its Just Catch Offshore modularized carbon capture facility for offshore installations has been successfully qualified by DNV, the global independent energy expert and assurance provider. The qualification means the proprietary solution is now ready to be deployed in offshore oil and gas fields for reduced emission power generation.

“DNV’s recently published Energy Transition Outlook report reveals that Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is indispensable for global decarbonization efforts, across multiple industry sectors,” said Jørg Aarnes, Global Lead, Hydrogen and CCS, Energy Systems at DNV. “We are pleased to provide validation of the technology in a frontier application area – power generation in the offshore sector. DNV has validated that Aker Carbon Capture’s modular technology Just Catch Offshore can capture CO2 from flue gas stemming from turbines on floating offshore installations.”

Gas turbines used for power generation offshore can be an efficient local source of energy, covering the electrical and heat demand for both the offshore host facility, as well as for the carbon capture process, Aker Carbon Capture noted. “The energy efficiency can exceed 80% when utilizing all waste heat from the turbine exhaust. By implementing CCS instead of power from shore, there is no large electrical transmission loss across the onshore grid, and onshore power can be utilized elsewhere. Where local storage is available, the investment cost of CCS can compete with the cost of a PFS solution in several field developments,” said Aker Carbon Capture’s CEO Valborg Lundegaard.

Currently, Aker Carbon Capture is delivering a Just Catch EPC project for Twence’s waste-to-energy facility in Hengelo, the Netherlands.

“The proven Just Catch onshore plant model has been an important starting point for the development of our Just Catch Offshore solution. Nonetheless, as the offshore environment and the design criteria are different from our land-based applications, we found it necessary to undertake a qualification program for our Just Catch Offshore unit,” said Jim Stian Olsen, chief technology officer, Aker Carbon Capture. “The need to include other materials, as well as the necessity to handle and maintain the plant performance during severe motions have been important criteria for further design adjustments.”

In development since 2018, the modularized offshore solution can fit into any application where gas turbines are present, said Aker Carbon Capture, including bottom fixed as well as floating production facilities such as FPSOs, FLNG, power hubs and offshore power gas plants. The standardized offering consists of two standard units of 120 and 180 kTPA as building blocks, typically configured and installed into a single module. This allows capacity to be increased and adjusted according to specific requirements.

The CCS module is fully prefabricated before being lifted onboard the host facility at the integration yard for further hookup to the gas turbine stacks, said Stian Olsen. Delivery time is typically 20 to 24 months.

“The CCS plant capacity is fitted to an offshore facility with several turbines in operation. Various gas turbine models are now considered compatible with our capture units,” Stian Olsen added.

“CCS will be an important tool to help decarbonize the oil and gas industry, reducing emissions from gas turbines,” Lundegaard stated. “CCS can also offer the industry an energy- and cost-efficient way of utilizing the available energy resources by avoiding large electric transmission loss across the onshore grid.”

According to the DNV qualification, the offshore facility with Aker Carbon Capture’s proprietary technology is considered fit for harsh weather conditions with severe motions. The solution can be used for a traditional field development project path, including a FEED phase, EPC delivery and operational support.

Lundegaard sees the DNV qualification as further strengthening the global offshore market’s trust in the Just Catch Offshore offering. “Given its extensive experience in qualification procedures, DNV’s statement offers strong value to both our partners and us.”