TES is advancing plans to import, store and export captured CO2 at its Wilhelmshaven project in Germany to support its future green hydrogen-based electric natural gas (e-NG) production.
Having launched the Carbon Management Alliance (CM Alliance), a group focused on implementing carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) technologies, the firm plans to expand its capabilities to handle liquid CO2 at the site.
It intends to bring in CO2 captured from emitter sites to Wilhelmshaven by rail or pipeline, with the site’s terminal expected to store CO2 for interim periods before export to storage facilities in the North or Baltic Sea or high renewable energy-producing regions for e-NG production.
The company initially plans to handle five million tonnes of CO2 per year, with expansions up to 40 million tonnes.
© TES
Produced by combining green hydrogen and captured CO2, e-NG is chemically identical to natural gas and can be used in existing gas infrastructure and applications.
In Wilhelmshaven, TES plans to build its Green Energy Hub, where it intends to import e-NG produced in regions such as the US and the Middle East, for direct use in the natural gas grid.
Hugo Dijkgraaf, Chief Operating Officer at TES, says CO2 could be delivered from Germany, eastern France, Switzerland, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Furthermore, it could connect to CCS facilities in Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the UK.
“The CO2 export terminal will be a key asset for Germany’s industrial decarbonization, connecting CO2 emitters and hard-to-abate industry clusters across Germany and Europe,” he said.
Bridging the gap: TES’ vision for e-NG
Electric natural gas (e-NG) is emerging as a practical bridging solution in the energy transition, that could extend the use of existing natural gas infrastructure while maintaining grid stability.
Described by many as a “drop-in fuel,” e-NG is produced by combining green hydrogen with recycled carbon dioxide (CO2) through a methanation process. Chemically identical to natural gas, the fuel can be deployed in gas grids for use in power generation, heavy industry, heating, heavy road transportation, maritime and more.
By using green hydrogen and captured CO2, e-NG proponents say the gas can act as a circular and sustainable alternative to natural gas for companies looking to clean up their operations.
For example, Japan wants e-NG to comprise 1% of its gas supply in existing networks by 2030, before it’s increased to 90% by 20501, signifying the role the fuel could play in the energy transition.
Founded just five years ago in 2019, Tree Energy Solutions (TES) began as a company focused on developing large-scale green hydrogen production and distribution projects.
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