CO2 capture project Athos in Amsterdam ends now that Tata Steel opts for hydrogen
In addition to Tata Steel, EBN (Energie Beheer Nederland), Gasunie and Port of Amsterdam are part of the Athos project. The project focuses on the capture, transport, storage and reuse (CCUS) of CO2 in the North Sea Canal region.
The amount of CO2 that Tata Steel emits, about 6 million tons, was ‘the foundation’ for the project, according to the press release. With Tata Steel made last week to opt for the hydrogen route, it makes no sense to continue Athos in the same form.
Athos may join a list of CCS projects that have ceased operation. Why are these projects so difficult?
8 million tons of CO2
Last year received a million euros in subsidy to test the feasibility of the project. The study showed that CCUS is technical. From 2030, up to 8 million tons of CO2 could have been captured annually.
Ad van Wijk, professor of Future Energy Systems, already told Change Inc. little to be seen in project Athos. In this specific case, the location and far away from an empty factory is necessary to pump the CO2 around. According to him, developments for making steel with hydrogen are much faster and can offer a permanent solution for making the industry more sustainable.
porthos
Now that Athos has stopped, the Netherlands has one large CCS project left, called Porthos. Earlier this year, the government reserved two billion euros for the project that can help companies in the Maasvlakte with the capture and storage of CO2 in a gas field in the North Sea. The reservation was disclosed to four companies: Shell, ExxonMobil, Air Liquide and Air Products.