The Linde Group, accompanied by RWE Power and BASF, are entering the second phase of their successful CO₂ scrubbing research. Dr Aldo Belloni, Linde Executive Board member has described the venture as bearing nothing less than “global relevance.”
After a successful initial stage, involving a pilot plant located in the coal innovation centre of Niederaussem, the trio have embarked upon a long-term test phase. The next stage will see the plant undergo process-engineering optimisation and testing between now and the end of 2013.
Helped by a sizeable € 4m investment from The Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, the second phase will see approximately €6m of overall investment. The Ministry’s sponsorship illustrates the authority’s ongoing conviction in the project. Indeed, between its conception in 2007 and today, the ministry has invested €4.5m in the research.
'Key' research
Dr Johannes Lambertz, CEO of RWE Power explained the motivations underpinning this key research. “Efficient CO₂ scrubbing is key to the success of carbon capture and storage technology, i.e. the removal and storage of carbon dioxide.” Lambertz continued, “Together with our partners, we want to move CCS forward as an enabling technology for low-polluting electricity generation from coal. The politicians also have to do their bit: We need a CCS law implementing the requirements of the EU Directive without any special conditions to enable the technology to be used in Germany in the long run.$quot;
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