Carbon capture and sequestration isn’t only suitable for new power plants, but more essential in retrofitting existing ones. Because of this retrofitting nature, carbon capture and sequestration is regarded by the International Energy Agency as the single technology most capable of carbon dioxide reduction in the world and could account for more than 20% of global carbon dioxide abatement by 2050. However, state-of-the-art carbon capture technologies are all costly.
Industrial Technology Research Institute’s HECLOT: High efficiency calcium looping technology is a carbon capture technology for fossil power plants and other industrial emission reductions. It loops calcium oxide and calcium carbonate in a regenerative cycle to remove carbon dioxide in the post-combustion fumes of boilers. With integrated hydration, the technology has much higher carbon capture efficiency and, potentially, much lower cost than other technologies.
Moreover, high-temperature operation and a high-quality heat recovery design keep energy consumption in carbon capture much lower than other processes. The design has been validated in the field by a pilot unit. Based on data from continuous operation, the design can meet the capture cost target of $30/ton of carbon dioxide at a capacity as low as 50 Megawatts electricity while maintaining electricity generation cost below $80 per Megawatt hour.