A Fuel Cell based solution for natural gas compression emissions reduction, onsite generation and post-combustion CO2 capture and sequestration
Enbridge and FuelCell Energy have completed a Front End Engineering study to determine the feasibility costs to capture post-combustion emissions including NOx and CO2 from an existing large scale natural gas compression station within Louisiana, USA. The design done to date included post-combustion flue gas treatment and routing to an array of molten-carbonate fuel cells, CO2 processing, and pumping up to dense phase for pipeline transport for sequestration. In addition, the balance of plant design was completed for utilities, civil works, and electrical design. The results from the study indicate it is now feasible to safely capture NOx emissions from vintage reciprocating compressors to meet the US EPA’s “good neighbor” emissions rules, all while producing low carbon electrical power for both an onsite electric motor driver compressor, as well as the associated CO2 capture and pipeline facilities to capture up to 75% of scope 1 CO2 emissions, with potential to increase this capture up to 90% in the next few years. This presentation will review the technical challenges that were overcome as well as the economic benefits and optimization required to make this a viable solution for this facility.