Plant Barry gains 'world's largest' carbon capture facility

The carbon capture and storage facility at the plant is claimed to be the world’s largest for a coal-fired generating power plant. It will capture approximately 150,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) annually, for permanent underground storage in a deep saline geologic formation.

Carbon dioxide at the Barry facility is being captured using Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ KM-CDR amine solvent technology, which captures CO₂ from the plant’s flue gas. It is then compressed, making it ready for pipeline transport.

Beginning in autumn this year, captured CO₂ from the plant will be supplied to the Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership — or SECARB — for transport by pipeline and injection 9,500ft underground at a site within the Citronelle Oil Field, a site about 11 miles from the part that is operated by Denbury Resources.

The CO₂ will remain below the surface, permanently trapped in the geological formation into which it was injected. It is not being used for enhanced oil recovery. A characterisation well previously drilled within the field by SECARB revealed excellent characteristics for safe geologic storage.