A Feasibility Study of Full Scale, Post Combustion, Amine Based, CO 2 Capture Retrofit Application in the Cement Manufacturing Sector at the Lehigh Hanson Materials Limited Facility

Abstract

This paper will present the progress of a feasibility study, jointly conducted by Lehigh Hanson Materials Limited (Lehigh) and the International CCS Knowledge Centre, aimed at retrofitting a cement production facility at Lehigh (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) with a full scale, post combustion, amine-based Carbon Dioxide (CO2) capture system. This study is a major breakthrough for carbon capture and storage (CCS) as it represents a first in North America for CCS application in the cement industry. The main deliverable of the feasibility study is a Class 4 estimate to assist Lehigh in determining the economic viability of a potential CCS retrofit project. This feasibility study commenced in November 2019 and will be complete in the fall of 2021 and is projected to cost $3.0M CAD. Funding for this study has been contributed to by Lehigh and Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) with contributions by the International CCS Knowledge Centre. The study will examine both the carbon capture technology and the “balance of plant”. Successful completion of this feasibility study could lead to a decision to carry out a Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) study and ultimately to a Final Investment Decision (FID) to implement a commercial scale project. A commercial project is projected to reduce emissions by approximately 600,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. The commercial scale project is projected to reduce emissions in Alberta in excess of 13.1 Mtonnes over a 25-year lifespan. The International CCS Knowledge Centre who is providing project management and advisory services, has engaged an experienced CO2 capture technology vendor, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, for the design of the CO2 capture system. MHI is responsible for the scope of work that includes the flue gas pretreatment system, the CO2 capture facility, and the CO2 compression process. The International CCS Knowledge Centre is also engaging and directing engineering consultants or other solution providers as appropriate. This direction and guidance will utilize base learnings from both the fully integrated Boundary Dam 3 CCS Facility and the comprehensive second-generation CCS study, known as the Shand CCS Feasibility Study, engineering consultants are being engaged to provide preliminary process and equipment design and cost estimates within their assigned scopes of work or work packages. The captured CO2 would be permanently sequestered and could be also used for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). The Lehigh facility is located near potential storage locations, including being about 50 km away from the Alberta Carbon Trunk Line (ACTL) and nearby EOR opportunities. Lehigh, part of HeidelbergCement, will contribute to the company’s goal of achieving CO2-neutral concrete by 2050 at the latest and make it the most sustainable building material.