Carbon capture FAQ

The Swedish Energy Agency is working to develop well-functioning policy instruments to promote sustainable business models. Climate change will cost society dearly if nothing is done to stop the rising levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases. Our expectation is that the outcome at both national and international level will be regulations and policies whereby those who emit greenhouse gases will have to pay to compensate for those emissions, and that those monies can then be used to finance climate-positive initiatives such as BECCS.

Even if the whole world cease to use fossil fuels today, the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is already too high. It is important that policies at all levels continues to enforce and strengthen instruments that accelerate a transition to renewable energy. Unfortunately, there are businesses that will probably continue to emit greenhouse gases for many years to come. For them, BECCS can be a way to compensate for this while efforts are made to reduce the fossil emissions.

Växjö Energi was a pioneer in becoming a fossil-free business. The society at all levels needs to continue accelerating the climate transition. Unfortunately, the level of greenhouse gases in the atmospheric is already too high due to historical emissions and making the transition on a global level will take time. As a result, the reductions in emissions of fossil carbon dioxide need to be complemented by reductions in atmospheric carbon dioxide from renewable sources. It is important that carbon capture complements rather than replaces other measures. A sustainable future needs 100% renewable energy production together with carbon dioxide removal.

The UN climate body, the IPCC, has concluded that it is impossible to prevent climate change without the use of carbon sinks, that is, capturing carbon that would otherwise have reached the atmosphere. Capturing and transporting carbon dioxide to final storage deep in the bedrock is an important measure to reduce the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide and to mitigate the climate crisis. It is a way to achieve negative emissions. Although the emissions of Växjö Energi are from completely renewable sources, we want to be involved and contribute.

One possible scenario is to have the facility at Växjö Energi operational by 2028. What we need now is well-working national and international policy instruments for BECCS, that can provide us with necessary conditions to implement carbon capture.

We are currently assessing the cost of the various components. This facility will be a major investment and we have already received national subsidies for an extended feasibility study. We have applied for an EU grant to finance some of the investment. BECCS appears to be one of the most effective ways of achieving the climate neutrality that is ever so crucial for future generations. In addition, we are already seeing interest from trade and industry to contribute to the realisation of carbon capture and storage. This feels extremely encouraging and we are actively participating in discussions at several levels on how the present proposals for business models can be developed into dynamic and effective markets.

Climate change will cost society dearly if nothing is done to stop the rising levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases. Accordingly, carbon capture is high on the political agenda, and economic systems to pay for carbon capture are being developed in both the EU and Sweden. Our expectation is that the outcome at both national andinternational level will be regulations and policies whereby those who emit greenhouse gases will have to pay to compensate for those emissions, and that those monies can then be used to finance climate-positive initiatives such as BECCS.

As measures and incentives are implemented, the value of negative emissions will increase. This means that actors investing in bio-CCS can generate revenue while also benefiting the climate. Revenues from Växjö's investment in carbon capture are therefore expected to be beneficial for the customers of Växjö Energi, the residents of Växjö, and society at large.

Although Växjö Energi's emissions are from completely renewable sources, we want to be involved and contribute. Unfortunately, atmospheric greenhouse gas levels are already too high due to historical emissions and making the transition on a global level will take time. As a result, the reductions in emissions of fossil carbon dioxide need to be complemented by reductions in atmospheric carbon dioxide from renewable sources. At Sandviksverket we have good condition to capture renewable carbon dioxide and to reach carbon dioxide removal.

As measures and incentives are implemented, the value of negative emissions will increase. This means that actors investing in bio-CCS can generate revenue while also benefiting the climate. Revenues from Växjö's investment in carbon capture are therefore expected to be beneficial for the customers of Växjö Energi, the residents of Växjö, and society at large.

The liquid carbon dioxide is transported refrigerated to its final storage location, currently planned to be the North Sea, some 3 km below the seabed. The carbon dioxide will be mineralised naturally, eventually becoming part of the bedrock. This reduces the atmospheric carbon dioxide level and results in a negative emission.

By rail and then by ship. The lack of a port near Växjö is a challenge in itself. We are currently looking into how we can manage the transport and storage aspects in the most efficient and sustainable ways possible. The rail transport will require close collaboration with the Swedish Transport Administration, and it will also require a siding so that freight trains can stop at Sandviksverket to collect the carbon dioxide. We are also in discussions with Danish and Norwegian stakeholders to secure a well-working delivery chain all the way to the North Sea.

Biofuel in the shape of residual products from the forest that would otherwise go to waste is delivered to Växjö Energi, where its bioenergy is extracted in the shape of renewable electricity and heat. The carbon dioxide formed during production is separated from the flue gases and compressed into liquid form. The liquid carbon dioxide is then transported to a tried-and-tested location for permanent storage and, in the longer term, petrification into various limestone minerals. The planned location is the North Sea and the bedrock, some 2–3 km below sea level. This reduces the atmospheric carbon dioxide level and results in a negative emission.

The biggest change will be visual, as the facility will mean the addition of another chimney. As for noise from the facility, we will remain below the level of the permits we already have. Our ambition is always to impact our surroundings as little as possible.