The project, known as Kairos@C, is one of seven large-scale projects chosen out of 300 applicants and is intended to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at the company’s Antwerp chemical site.
Kairos@C aims to use CO2 capture, liquefaction, transportation, and storage on a large scale in the North Sea to help mitigate 14.2m tonnes of CO2 over the first ten years of operation.
This is deemed achievable by the two companies through the use of Air Liquide’s patented Cryocap technology and BASF’s Sorbead solution, which will ‘dry’ the CO2.
Commenting on the project, Benoît Potier, Chairman, CEO, Air Liquide, said, “We are very pleased that the Kairos@C project has been selected by the Innovation Fund and it will contribute towards the EU climate goals, thanks in particular to some innovative Air Liquide technologies.”
In addition to sharing respective technological expertise, the two will use their Antwerp@C framework to create shared CO2 transport and export infrastructures.
Stating that BASF aims to reach ‘ambitious goals’ when it comes to net zero targets, Dr. Martin Brudermüller added. “We must use all available technologies. Especially for BASF’s Verbund site in Antwerp, due to its prime location in the Port of Antwerp with direct sea access, CCS is an attractive solution to reduce CO2 emissions from production processes on an industrial scale within a relatively short timeframe.”
The project is planned to be operational in 2025.