Assessment of the potential for CO2 capture in European heavy industries

Paper in proceeding, 2009

This study aims to assess the role of CO2 capture and storage (CCS) technologies in reducing CO2 emissions from the European industry sectors. Emphasis is here placed on three branches of industry with promising prospects for CCS; mineral oil refineries, iron and steel, and cement production. A relatively small number (~270) of large installations (>500 000 tCO2/year) dominates emissions from these three branches. Together these installations emit 432 MtCO2/year, 8% of EU’s total greenhouse gas emissions. If realizing the full potential of emerging CO2 capture technologies some 270-330 Mt CO2 emissions could be avoided annually. Further, several regions have been singled out as particularly suitable to facilitate integrated CO2 transport networks. The best matches between sources and sinks are currently found in regions bordering the North Sea.