Effects of CO2-stream impurities on CO2 transport and storage

The grant opportunity HORIZON-CL5 focuses on the effects of CO₂ stream impurities on transport and storage systems for carbon dioxide. This initiative is part of the Horizon Europe program, specifically under Cluster 5, and aims to fund research and innovation actions (RIA). The budget allocated for this topic in 2025 is approximately €10 million, with the expectation to fund about two grants. The application process is a single-stage procedure with a deadline set for September 2, 2025. The primary objective is to address the challenges of designing and ensuring the safe operation of CO₂ transport and storage infrastructures, particularly regarding how impurities in CO₂ streams can affect the behavior of these systems. This includes concerns related to the chemical and thermophysical properties of CO₂, which can lead to issues like phase behavior changes during transport and corrosion of infrastructure. Funded projects will aim to: 1. Enhance understanding of how impure CO₂ streams impact transport networks and storage facilities, including both engineered and geological barriers. 2. Contribute to the development of guidelines and standards informed by the physical and chemical behavior of impure CO₂. Projects focusing on transport may involve more detailed recommendations for pipeline and ship offloading facilities, as well as public safety protocols and protective material suggestions. For those centered on storage, the emphasis will be on safety requirements, material protection strategies, and monitoring technologies to safeguard against integrity issues in storage complexes. Themes that funded projects could address include transient flow modeling in pipelines, thermodynamic and corrosion modeling, geochemical behaviors of reservoir components, and the economic impacts associated with maintaining low impurity levels in CO₂ capture, transport, and storage processes. The project encourages collaboration with entities from different EU and associated countries. The use of European research infrastructures, such as ECCSEL, is supported but not required, and there is a strong emphasis on synergy with standardization activities. Participants must comply with general conditions outlined in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, which include criteria on admissibility, eligible countries, and capabilities. Funding will be provided as a lump sum covering eligible project costs, with no co-funding required. This call promotes research that will ultimately facilitate enhanced safety and operational standards for carbon capture and storage technologies, contributing to climate mitigation strategies within the EU framework.

This is a Horizon Europe call focusing on the effects of CO2 stream impurities on CO2 transport and storage systems. The call, HORIZON-CL5, falls under Cluster 5 and aims to support research and innovation actions (RIA). The total budget allocated for this topic in 2025 is €10,000,000, and it is expected that approximately two grants will be awarded. The call follows a single-stage submission process, with the opening date set for May 6, 2025, and a deadline of September 2, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The grant agreement will be a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant. The core challenge addressed is the design and safe operation of CO2 transport and storage systems, particularly concerning the impact of impurities in CO2 streams. These impurities can significantly alter the chemical and thermophysical properties of CO2, affecting its behavior during transport (via pipelines and shipping) and storage (in geological formations). The call emphasizes the importance of maintaining CO2 stream purity to prevent issues like two-phase flow in pipelines and corrosion of infrastructure. It also references Directive 2009/31/EC, which regulates CO2 stream composition to protect storage site integrity and human health. The expected outcomes of funded projects include: 1. A better understanding of how impure CO2 flows affect transport networks and storage complexes, including engineered and geological barriers. 2. Contributions to relevant guidelines and standardization work, informed by improved knowledge of the physical and chemical behavior of impure CO2. To achieve these outcomes, projects are expected to deliver specific results based on whether they focus on transport or storage: For transport-focused projects: * Recommendations for the design and operation of pipelines and ship offloading facilities. * Recommendations for public health and safety requirements. * Protective and mitigating material recommendations. * Approaches and monitoring technologies to prevent adverse effects on transport infrastructure integrity. For storage-focused projects: * Recommendations for public health and safety requirements. * Protective and mitigating material recommendations. * Approaches and monitoring technologies to prevent adverse effects on the integrity of the storage complex. Across both transport and storage applications, projects should also provide: * Guidance and recommendations for technology providers, regulatory authorities, certification, and standardization bodies. * Ambitious dissemination actions to promote project results and support their uptake. The call suggests several issues that projects could address, including: * Transient flow modeling in pipeline networks. * Combined thermodynamic and corrosion modeling. * Reactive transport and geochemical modeling of storage reservoirs. * Generation of experimental data on geochemical reactions of reservoir rocks, caprocks, well cements, and fault seals exposed to impure CO2. * Generation of experimental data on thermophysical and corrosive properties of CO2-rich mixtures. * Impact of impurities on equipment, especially non-metallic components. * Impact of impurities on the physical behavior and geochemical interaction of CO2 streams within storage complexes. * Impact of achieving very low impurity levels on the costs of capture, transport, and storage. * Development of a systematic method to understand impurity limits and define specifications for transport and storage infrastructure. The call encourages the use of the European Research Infrastructure ECCSEL but does not mandate it. It also encourages synergy with standardization activities performed by CEN, CENELEC, ISO, and ETSI and promotes international cooperation, particularly with partners from the United States. The general conditions for participation are detailed in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, including admissibility conditions, eligible countries, and financial and operational capacity requirements. The evaluation and award process will consider the need for a balanced portfolio of activities covering both transport and storage infrastructure. Eligible costs will be reimbursed as a lump sum. Applicants are directed to the Funding & Tenders Portal and related guidance documents for application forms, evaluation templates, model grant agreements, and other relevant information. Partner search tools and helpdesks are also available to assist applicants. In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to improve the understanding and management of CO2 stream impurities in carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems. It seeks to fund research that will lead to better design, operation, and safety standards for CO2 transport and storage infrastructure, ultimately supporting the wider deployment of CCS technology as a climate mitigation strategy. The call encourages a holistic approach, considering both the technical and economic aspects of impurity management, and promotes collaboration among researchers, industry, and regulatory bodies.