Shell to test carbon capture technology at Technology Centre Mongstad in Norway

Shell Catalysts & Technologies offers two leading carbon capture technologies: The CANSOLV CO₂ Capture System and ADIP ULTRA. The test at TCM will involve a proprietary amine-based solvent that is part of the CANSOLV CO₂ technology. It is expected that this will be then qualified for delivery to carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects around the world.

Shell Catalysts & Technologies has previously carried out two test campaigns at TCM, in 2014–15 and 2016. One of its technologies has been chosen for Hafslund Oslo Celsio’s full-scale capture plant at Klemetsrud, Oslo, Norway. This project is part of the large Norwegian full-chain CCS project named Longship and, following the planned start-up in 2026, 400,000 tons of CO₂ emitted by Celsio each year will be captured and permanently stored in the Norwegian shelf.

Nick Flinn, VP Decarbonisation Technologies, Shell Catalysts & Technologies, says, “We are very pleased to continue using TCM’s excellent facilities and expertise. The purpose of the next campaign is to make a final test and verification of this upgraded solvent that will be introduced to the market.”

Nick emphasises that Shell is strengthening its efforts in the energy transition field to help realise a carbon-neutral world on a global scale. He says, “For many years, Shell has strived to minimise CO₂ emissions utilising its cutting-edge technologies. Today, we possess reliable and economically feasible carbon-capture technologies, supported by many years of research and development activity, and a robust track record of commercial plants around the world.”

Nick continues, “TCM’s abundant knowledge and experience in environmental impact assessment, and its state-of-the-art testing environment, will further raise the level of our CO₂ capture technologies, enabling us to accelerate business expansion, especially in the vital UK and European markets. We expect that the new testing programme will contribute to realising carbon neutrality in the years ahead.”

Muhammad Ismail Shah, Managing Director at TCM, also welcomes the collaboration. He says, “It is very satisfying that a leading capture technology developer such as Shell Catalysts & Technologies has, again, chosen TCM as the arena for its carbon capture tests. Our staff are ready to ensure effective execution of the tests, and to provide expert advice throughout the campaign.”

Muhammad highlights the importance of an experienced capture technology supplier returning to TCM to run a campaign: “This shows that even the mature amine technology is still developing, and that suppliers are continuously making improvements and innovations to have better efficiency and to reduce costs when using the technology in a full-scale plant. Based on this, we believe that TCM will be relevant as an arena for testing both mature and completely new technologies for many years to come.”

“We will now make all necessary preparations for the upcoming campaign for Shell and look forward to welcoming their team,” Muhammad concludes.

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About TCM

TCM is situated on the west coast of Norway. Since its establishment in 2012, a total of 17 test campaigns for CO₂ capture have been conducted at the facility. It uses two different live industrial flue-gas sources from Equinor’s refinery at Mongstad that have different CO₂ contents.

The test facilities for CO₂ capture consist of an amine plant and a chilled ammonia plant, as well as an area for emerging capture technologies. Both the amine and the chilled ammonia plants capture CO₂ by means of a liquid chemical, known as a solvent, consisting of a mix of water and either amine- or ammonia-based solutions. The site for emerging technologies, started in 2021, is used for testing technologies such as membranes, adsorbents (solid materials that bind CO₂) and hybrid technologies.

The amine plant is a unit with generic capabilities developed to serve as a demonstrator for solvent-based capture technologies. It has so far been used by six technology developers in addition to performing scientific testing using non-proprietary solvents (monoethanolamine and CESAR 1) for helping developments in the global carbon capture community.

During the last ten years, TCM, equipped with the world’s largest-scale CO₂-capture testing facilities, has provided users with profound knowledge, online analysis and advanced analytical technologies relating to the trace components of gas emissions. Its data, accumulated through testing, exceed 1,000 categories and contribute significantly to the commercialisation of CO₂ capture technologies.

About Shell Catalysts & Technologies

Shell Catalysts & Technologies, part of Shell, is a leading technology licensor and brings owner–operator–innovator capabilities to the market. It has more than 1,200 references for gas processing technologies at gas plants and refineries worldwide.

It supports Shell and non-Shell businesses by working with them to co-create integrated, customised solutions comprising licensed technologies, refining and petrochemical catalysts, and technical services.

It operates across the energy value chain: from upstream, gas processing and liquefied natural gas through to downstream refining and petrochemicals.

For more information, visit www.shell.com/ct.

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