ETN’s groundbreaking Supercritical CO2 (sCO2) webinar series has been featured in Modern Power Systems magazine’s Jan-Feb 2024 edition. James Varley, the Group Managing Editor, dives deep into the future of carbon dioxide as the working fluid in the article section titled “Carbon dioxide: working fluid of the future?”

Titled “sCO2 on the horizon in the EU,” the article sheds light on ETN’s webinars covering cutting-edge R&D happenings in Europe, with a spotlight on supercritical CO2 technology. Supported by EU funding from the Horizon research and innovation programme, these initiatives mark a pivotal moment in advancing energy and turbomachinery solutions.

With nine leading European sCO2 research & development projects outlined and promising prospects for higher thermal efficiencies, reduced costs, lower emissions, and more compact components, the future is brighter than ever for sCO2 power cycles.

Highlighted projects include:

• CARBOSOLA (Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR))
• COMPASsCO2 Horizon2020
• CO2OLHEAT
• H2020 DESOLINATION
• iSOP Project
• SCARABEUS PROJECT
• SCO2-Efekt (Czech national project)
• SCO2-for-NPP Project
• SOLARSCO2OL Project

Please download the full article below.

Registrations to this event are free, but mandatory. To register, please follow the link at the top right of this page.

Abstracts of the presentations

Detailed information on the presentations can be found below:

Presentation by Tom Terlouw

Limiting global warming to 2° Celsius requires an immediate transformation of the global energy system. Renewable energy sources have to be widely integrated, in combination with various flexibility options, to ensure a reliable and sustainable operation of the overall energy system. To achieve this, the electricity system is transforming towards distributed energy systems. Geographical islands can play a crucial role to become a forerunner towards more sustainable and distributed energy systems, since they are isolated and are usually dependent on fossil fuels imported from the mainland. In this context, a novel optimization framework is presented for designing multi-energy systems (MESs) on geographical islands. The framework is solved to minimize costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while meeting the energy demands of given end-users for two real case studies: Eigerøy (Norway) and Crete (Greece). Overall, strong GHG reductions can be achieved with a marginal cost increase (in Eigerøy), or might even lead to an overall cost reduction (Crete). However, we find that (i) MESs analyses require analyzing non-climate change-related impacts as such systems typically entail some environmental trade-offs and the (ii) decarbonization potential is typically limited by location-specific regulations and socio-economic constraints.

Presentation by Lucy Mitchell

“The drive to generate efficient, lower cost renewable energy systems and communities means that there are often novel technologies and combinations of technologies employed, whose environmental effects are unquantified. This lack of quantification of device parameters or outputs can often be compounded on-the-ground by a lack of ecological data to facilitate Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), a standard measure of a development’s impacts. This can lead to delays, and longer, less focused environmental surveys than are really required and that do not properly ascertain impacts.

In these situations, we require methods to remedy such data absence, and to streamline the EIA process. We are tackling this in two ways; 1. We have combined a set of flexible, desk-based methods to focus initial impact assessment: we start with a Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework, which leads to a comprehensive Weight of Evidence (WoE) process, and combined with a Receptor Sensitivity Index (RSI). For locations with no data these can be parameterised with data from the literature, and are fully transferable across locations and ecosystems. 2. We are developing a rapid avian biodiversity assessment method using Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) devices. Time consuming, unstandardised surveys during EIAs can hinder proper assessment of potential impacts where novel combinations of renewable energy systems are being implemented. Rapid, standardised, autonomous methods of data collection can facilitate better ‘before-and-after’ assessment of ecological communities around developments.

About ROBINSON project

ROBINSON’s main mission is to develop an integrated energy system to help decarbonise islands with industrial activities. The system, which will be demonstrated on the island of Eigerøy, Norway, couples locally available energy sources, electrical and thermal networks and innovative storage technologies, using hydrogen as energy carrier. In order to achieve the target, innovative technologies will be developed, integrated on the island and managed by a novel Energy Management System (EMS) that will include non-electrical resources such as biomass gasification, wastewater valorisation and industrial symbiosis. More information on ROBINSON is available on the project website.

 The ROBINSON project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 957752

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Global Power & Propulsion Forum titled “The Path to NET ZERO – Transforming & Decarbonising Energy Systems and Propulsion” will take place on 17-18 January 2024 in Zurich, Switzerland.

Over two exciting days, discussions on relevant and impactful developments in energy systems and aviation will take place, tackling the demands and requirements of the industries and society as a whole. They will feature industry specialists, academics and leaders from organizations such as ETN Global, Rolls-Royce, Siemens, Pratt & Whitney, Bechtel, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and many more.

The GPPS Energy Forum 2024 will address the transition to a decarbonised energy supply and air travel. It will revolve around a regional look ahead to transform towards NET ZERO with an affordable and secure energy supply. The pace of this transformation is set by what economies can tolerate and what technologies can enable us to achieve in the next decades.

Programme

• 17 January 2024
  • The first day of the Forum24 will spotlight regional perspectives on energy decarbonisation. Expect insights from industry leaders and global institutions as they unveil their visions, strategies, and cutting-edge technologies driving the transition to Net Zero. Dive into dedicated keynotes and panels delving into the pivotal role of hydrogen, exploring requisite technologies, initiatives, and the challenges inherent in its adoption. Throughout these sessions, we’ll illuminate the economic and financial dimensions that stand at the core of ensuring energy security and affordability.
• 18 January 2024
  • The second day of the Forum24 will showcase a diverse array of projects, demonstrating how industrial leaders have successfully secured investments and initiated the implementation of technologies geared towards energy decarbonization. Topics will span carbon capture and storage (CCS), fusion, decarbonization in ship propulsion, and airport infrastructure. Engage in specialized sessions focusing on aircraft propulsion and the ramifications of its design when operated with sustainable aviation fuels.

Forum24 presents a unique and intimate environment for turbomachinery professionals to connect both professionally and socially. This setting facilitates the development of valuable, long-term interactions and connections within our community.

For detailed programme, registration and further details, please visit GPPS Forum24 website.

Our involvement:

ETN Global will be present at the Forum on both days and our Managing Director Christer Björkqvist will participate in the following panel discussions:

17 January 2024:

• 11:30-13:00: Panel 1: A regional approach to energy decarbonization
• Panelists: Christer Björkqvist (ETN Global), Torsten Buddenberg (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries EMEA Ltd), Fayette Collier (USG), Xuan Lv (SPIC, State Power Investment Company),John Gülen (Bechtel)
• Chair: Zuozhi Zhao (Siemens Energy)

• 15:40-17:00: Panel 2: Technological, regulatory and economical challenges in the hydrogen value chain
• Panelists: Christer Björkqvist (ETN Global), John Gülen (Bechtel), Francis Bainier (GTRgaz), Oscar Mene Castiñeiras (Linde)
• Chair: Renaud Le Pierres (Meggitt)