Balanced Energy Networks

Carbon Negative Calciners

 

A fuel cell calciner can be used to generate electricity in a combustion-free process that converts limestone into lime and yields pure CO₂ which can be sequestered geologically without the need for scrubbing. The lime will subsequently absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere to leave an overall reduction of CO₂ in the atmosphere.

Origen Power

Origen Power and Cranfield University are developing a fuel cell calciner to enable electricity to be generated in a way that removes CO₂ from the atmosphere.

The Origen Power process feeds natural gas into a fuel cell to generate electricity. The heat generated breaks limestone (CaCO₃) down into lime (CaO) and pure carbon dioxide (CO₂). It is configured so that all of the CO₂ generated – both from the fuel cell and the calciner – is generated at over 99% purity. This pure CO₂ can be geologically sequestered and the lime that has been generated absorbs CO₂ in the air to re-form CaCO₃.

The process is 48% chemical-to-electrical efficient and results in the net removal of 800g of CO₂ for every kWh generated.

This contrasts with current technology where around 400g of CO₂ are emitted into the atmosphere for every kWh of electricity produced.

Origen Power's approach is neither land intensive nor energy-intensive, it has a small land footprint and the process removes CO₂ from the air, even as it generates electricity. Origen Power has the potential to address the energy trilemma of delivering low-cost, low-carbon and secure energy and it will lead to the development of a revolutionary new design for power stations: power stations that cleanse the air of CO₂ using mineral sequestration.

Secure Low-cost, Low-carbon Electricity

A fuel cell calciner is neither land-intensive or energy-intensive – it has a small land footprint and the process removes CO₂ from the air, even as it generates electricity.

It has the potential to address the energy trilemma of delivering low-cost, low-carbon and secure energy and it will lead to the development of a revolutionary new design for power stations that cleanse the air of CO₂: carbon negative electricity generation.

Academic papers on Fuel Cell Calciners

See academic papers on Fuel Cell Calciners from BEN Team at Origen Power and Cranfield University:

• Carbon Negative Power from Fuel Cell Calciners
• CHP Generation producing lime for CO₂ capture from air

Cost Effective, Carbon Negative, Baseload Power

To see Tim Kruger's TED Talk on the Origen Power Process click on the image: