In 2023, the research team constructed a 3-megawatt pilot plant, the largest of its kind globally. (Image courtesy of the Korea Institute of Energy Research)
DAEJEON, Feb. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — The Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) announced on February 20 that it has successfully demonstrated the world’s largest carbon dioxide separation system of its kind for natural gas power plants.
Traditional carbon capture methods at natural gas power facilities require extensive equipment including absorption towers, regeneration towers, and blowers, leading to increased power generation costs and high energy consumption.
In 2020, a joint research team from KIER and the Korea Electric Power Research Institute developed chemical looping combustion technology, which uses metal particles that absorb only oxygen from the air to separate carbon dioxide at its source.
The technology enables fossil fuels to receive pure oxygen without direct contact with air, resulting in only pure carbon dioxide and water vapor as byproducts. Because it doesn’t react with nitrogen in the air, the process prevents the formation of nitrogen oxides, a major air pollutant.
In 2023, the research team constructed a 3-megawatt pilot plant, the largest of its kind globally. During a continuous 300-hour operation, the facility successfully separated and emitted carbon dioxide at a concentration exceeding 96%, surpassing the previous record of 94%.
In a world first, the team also succeeded in generating steam for power production using the chemical looping combustion technology. While the European Union, China, and the United States are also testing similar technology, none have achieved steam production.
Economic analysis of the technology predicts annual operational profits of 14.4 billion won compared to existing 100-megawatt natural gas power generation, with a 4% increase in power generation efficiency. The cost of carbon dioxide capture is expected to decrease by 30%.
“Natural gas power plants utilizing new technologies like chemical looping combustion are essential for achieving national carbon neutrality,” said Ryu Ho-jung, a principal researcher at KIER. “We will continue to develop and demonstrate this technology to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation power generation.”
The research findings were published in the current issue of Science Advances.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
