En route to the low CO2 power plant
EVN as a technological leader
CO2 is released during the combustion process involving fuels with carbon content, such as coal, natural gas and biomass. Testing aimed at reducing the level of CO2 emissions is currently focusing on the Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) technology.
Around the world, three approaches are being pursued in this connection:
- Separation after burning (post-combustion)
- Separation prior to burning (pre-combustion)
- Burning in oxygen (oxyfuel)
At present, none of these technologies is suitable for commercial use in power plants.
EVN is cooperating with other energy providers and prominent universities to solve these issues. A study exploring the possibilities to convert the Dürnrohr power station into an oxyfuel plant or retrofit it with a CO
2 scrubbing system is being carried out with the Vienna University of Technology, and the universities of Hamburg-Harburg and Stuttgart.
EVN is also involved in the pre-engineering at a pilot plant of the Swedish energy group Vattenfall at the Schwarze Pumpe power station. In September 2008, the world’s first 30 MW oxyfuel pilot plant went into operation.