The UK’s Pilot-scale Advanced CO2 Capture Technology (PACT) facilities are to assume chairmanship of the Carbon Capture International Test Center Network (ITCN), a global coalition of facilities working to accelerate the research and development of carbon capture technologies.

30 June 2018

Based in Sheffield, England, the PACT facilities are the national specialist research and development facilities for combustion and carbon capture technology research and will serve as the host site for the ITCN from June 2018.

Headed up by Professor Mohamed Pourkashanian, the PACT facilities encompass advanced fossil-fuel energy, bioenergy and carbon capture and storage/utilisation technologies for both power generation and industrial applications, and bring together a comprehensive range of integrated pilot-scale and accompanying specialist research and analytical facilities, supported by leading academic expertise.

The International Test Center Network (ITCN) was was co-founded by the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC), CO2 Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) (Norway), National Carbon Capture Center (Alabama, US), Southern Company’s 25 megawatt CCS demonstration facility (Alabama, US), SaskPower, J-Power (Japan), ENEL Engineering and Research (IT), E.ON (Germany) and Doosan Power Systems (UK) and Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM).

Originally initiated by TCM in 2012 to share public information among test facilities around the world and enable carbon capture test facilities to progress the technologies that will be a key component of our clean energy future, the global network aims to share knowledge that can accelerate technology commercialisation, including, for example, next-generation technologies that can sharply reduce the costs of electricity generation (and industrial products) using CO2 capture.

Since the ITCN’s launch, some of the world’s leading CCS test centres have been sharing knowledge of construction and operation of large test facilities in order to establish a level playing field for technology vendors to reduce costs, as well as the technical, environmental and financial risks currently associated with CCUS.

The UK’s modern Industrial Strategy is a long-term plan to build a Britain fit for the future through a stronger, fairer economy. Through this we will help businesses to create better, higher-paying jobs – setting a path for Britain to lead in the high-tech, highly-skilled industries of the future.

As part of this, the modern Industrial Strategy sets out 4 Grand Challenges, including Clean Growth – Ensuring the UK is at the forefront of innovation and maximising the advantages for UK industry in the global shift to clean growth.

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“It is an honour for PACT to take over chairmanship of the International Test Centre Network. As a facility we share the wider ambitions of the coalition, that is to accelerate the research and development and ultimately de-risk carbon capture technologies.

The test centres within this network enable industry and academia to demonstrate their technologies and gain the necessary commercial confidence before committing to large scale trials, which not only lowers the overall risk but also enhances chances of commercial success for those technologies.

As a group we are looking forward to taking up custodianship, and to progressing the aims and vision of the ITCN”.

Professor Pourkashanian
PACT

Pilot-scale Advanced Capture Technology Facilities (PACT)

PACT consists of integrated pilot-scale facilities with significant analytical capability. The integrated approach includes advanced computational modelling, experimental testing and detailed imaging to form a validating and complementary system, which ensures a credible output and in-depth understanding of the impact of flame characteristics, critical reaction kinetics, devolatilsation and char reaction in the combustion processes.

This understanding creates a unique and powerful combination for the development of models for individual processes and integrated systems.

The core facility’s computational modelling capabilities are based at the PACT site in Sheffield, with multiple modelling stations preloaded with relevant software including CAD Drawing, Fluent, Aspen, Chemical and Kinetic to support research and consultancy work and produce commercially viable solutions for companies.

For more information on the International Test Center Network visit:
itcn-global.org

For more on UK PACT facilities visit:
pact.ac.uk

International Test Centre Network (ITCN)

ITCN is a global coalition of facilities working to accelerate the research and development (R&D) of carbon capture technologies.Chaired by the UK’s PACT facilities, the network has member organisations from across the globe. Since its launch, some of the world’s leading CCS test centres have been sharing knowledge of construction and operation of large test facilities in order to establish a level playing field for technology vendors to reduce costs, as well as the technical, environmental and financial risks currently associated with CCUS.