Tank storage necessary in Carbon Capture and Storage process

How do companies meet their obligations when it comes to CO2 emissions? Carbon Capture and Storage is the technology for capturing, transporting and storing CO2. Antonius helps companies with the design, choice of materials and making the right choices in terms of production technology for tanks.

Companies must drastically reduce their CO2 emissions. It has been agreed in the climate agreement that these emissions must be reduced by 49% in the Netherlands by 2030 compared to 1990. In other (EU) countries too, CO2 emissions are being reduced. The drastic reduction of these emissions must partly come from innovation such as sustainable energy and the use of hydrogen fuel, but that will not save us.

In the coming decades, the industry will therefore focus on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), the capture and storage of CO2 in, for example, depleted gas fields.

What is Carbon Capture and Storage?

When organic fuel burns, CO2 is created. It is captured and stored to prevent it from entering the atmosphere. That process is called Carbon Capture and Storage. The most commonly used form is called post-combustion, which is the capture from smoke or residual gases. Another form is pre-combustion, which is the capture of CO2 in the production process. Each method has its pros and cons. In both cases, where the difference is the moment of capture, the need arises to transport the CO2 and store it sustainably.

The transport of captured CO2 mainly takes place by ships and via pipelines. But in many cases a pipeline is not available – and construction is too expensive – even if the CO2 emissions of the ships are included – so transport by ship is expected to increase in the future. For transport, the CO2 is converted into liquid in a so-called liquification station and pumped into tanks pending transport. Specialized ships with large tanks dock regularly to transport the stored CO2 to the storage location. There it is pumped into the tanks of the transfer station.

Risks in the capture and storage of CO2

There are of course risks involved with the capture, transport and storage of CO2. In this article we limit ourselves to the physical risks such as leakage from the tanks during transport. In the event of a leak, large quantities of CO2 can be released which still end up in the atmosphere or, for example, in seawater. CO2 that ends up in the seawater leads to acidification of the ocean. This must be prevented at all times.

Fortunately, these physical risks are very minor. We have many years of experience with storage and transport under pressure of various gases and liquids. There are good laws and regulations regarding the construction quality of tanks. And in the Netherlands, for example, we have an enormous amount of knowledge from offshore and onshore extraction, transport and storage of gas. That expertise can be used directly for CCS purposes.

Antonius manufacturing for progress

We are happy to advise parties involved in the storage and transport of CO2 about the design, choice of materials and the right production technology for tanks. The high requirements in terms of build quality, strength, corrosion resistance and temperature resistance are always taken into account. Antonius is able to advise its clients on the total tank product in order to arrive at the most optimal configuration.

Based on our many years of experience in the field of vessel heads (bottoms) and spherical heads, we can and would like to contribute to the capture, transport and storage of CO2. Antonius is the specialist in the production of large dimensions, such as tank diameters of more than 10 meters. For the efficient transport of CO2 by ship, such tanks are the starting point for many engineers, and they are therefore at the right place at Antonius.

Antonius is a company with a long history, in 2022 the company will be 85 years old. The production capacity, production knowledge and material knowledge of the more than 65 professionals is unparalleled. The current management, who has been at the helm for a few years, has embarked on a new path. They are increasingly integrating into the customer chain. They do this in the field of engineering and manufacturability. Antonius engineers are typically involved at an early stage.

By already sitting at the table with experts at the interface of design and manufacturability during the inventory phase, new possibilities, innovation and progress are created. Antonius is already an absolute specialist when it comes to vessel heads and spherical heads used in tank construction and the design and realization of complex shapes and will further specialize in durables and renewables in addition to consolidating in these markets. Carbon Capture and Storage is a development that perfectly brings these segments together.

Questions or contact?

We would be happy to talk to you. For this you can contact Rob Derix or Richard Hamersma (management Antonius) on +31 (0)475 439 000