Honeywell Advanced Solvent Carbon Capture Technology To Be Tested at World’s Largest Test Facility

An advanced solvent for post-combustion carbon capture developed through a partnership involving the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) and Honeywell is set for engineering-scale testing in October at the Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM), the world’s largest carbon capture test facility located in western Norway.

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This new technology is an advanced solvent designed to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) found in flue gases generated from power, steel, cement, and other industrial plants.

The technology is the product of a multi-year cooperative agreement supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management and managed by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).

Engineering-scale testing allows developers to understand technical and performance risks, validating scaling factors to enable the design of future commercial-scale systems.

In the technology to be tested, CO2 is absorbed into an amine solvent and then sent to a stripper, where it is separated from the solvent. This CO2 is then compressed for geological sequestration or used for other purposes. The technology is designed for retrofitting in existing plants or inclusion in new installations.

The engineering-scale testing builds upon successful pilot-scale tests performed at the National Carbon Capture Center in 2023 and at UT Austin’s Separations Research Program plant in 2022, totaling approximately 7,000 hours. These long-term tests, coupled with bench-scale studies on solvent oxidation, have led to a solution capable of capturing 95% of a facility’s CO2 emissions.

According to the International Energy Agency, carbon capture can contribute about 20% of the reduction in CO2 emissions needed to prevent uncontrolled global warming and achieve zero emissions targets. Testing and validation of CO2 capture technologies play a crucial role in addressing the climate crisis.

TCM is renowned as the world’s largest and most flexible test facility for developing CO2 capture technologies, offering unique scale and flexibility to simulate real-world conditions for post-combustion capture. Ismail Shah, TCM’s managing director, expressed, "TCM is glad to welcome Honeywell to our amine facility. We are looking forward to testing and verifying Honeywell CO2 capture technology and efficiently achieving campaign objectives by offering TCM capabilities."

Large-scale, real-world testing bridges the gap between small-scale pilot projects and full-scale technology deployment. TCM provides the opportunity to test a variety of technologies on industrial flue gases, offering comprehensive data for comparison with similar technologies.

Honeywell is a global company serving diverse industries and focusing on automation, aviation, and energy transition. As an energy transition leader, Honeywell UOP offers various carbon capture solutions and surpasses all other providers in installed CO2 capture capacity.

UT Austin partners with a wide range of entities—entrepreneurs, investors, and large enterprises—annually generating over 150 new technologies, providing ample collaboration opportunities for industry.

NETL is a DOE national laboratory committed to driving innovation and delivering solutions for a sustainable and prosperous energy future. NETL ensures affordable, reliable energy while developing technologies to manage carbon throughout its life cycle, enabling environmental sustainability for all Americans.