France starts up 3D carbon capture plant in Dunkirk

France has launched a 3D pilot plant for capturing CO₂ from industrial sources in Dunkirk, TotalEnergies and the project's other developers reported on March 22.

The facility is up and running at steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal's complex in Dunkirk. During the demonstration phase, which should run for 12 to 18 months, the facility will capture 0.5 metric tons of CO₂/hour, or more than 4,000 mt annually using the DMXTM carbon capture process developed in IFPEN's labs. The aim is to make the process more competitive and less energy intensive, so that full-scale development is possible.

Besides TotalEnergies, ArcelorMittal and IFPEN, the project's developing consortium also includes Axens. Other companies involved in the project include TotalEnergies-owned GreenFlex, ETH, DTU, Air Products, John Cockerill, Gassco, Brevik Engineering and Seqens, while Suez and Lhoist are serving as sponsors.

"This carbon capture pilot is a big step towards decarbonising the industry: it is being tested in steelmaking, but can also be applied to refining processes, contributing to TotalEnergies' net-zero ambition for 2050, together with society," the French major's chief technology office Marie-Noelle Semeria said in a statement. "We need to capture and store residual emissions: that's why our R&D teams are working alongside our partners to develop expertise throughout the CO₂ capture, storage and use process."

The project was launched in May 2019, and construction began in 2020. Its cost is €19.2mn ($21.2mn), of which €14.7mn was covered by the EU.