KAUST Cryogenic Carbon Capture (CCC)

Overview

The Cryogenic Carbon and Sulfur Co-capture (CCSC) trailer rig from KAUST is an innovative, mobile system designed to capture multiple pollutants—including high-purity CO₂ (99.9%), SO₂, NO₂, and particulate matter (PM)—using a single cryogenic technology. Developed for flexible deployment at Kingdom point source locations, the CCSC rig demonstrated its capabilities at the Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO)-fired Power Plant of our key stakeholder, with minimal impact on existing infrastructure and operations.

Key milestones

• 2020 and 2021 - Initial technology feasibility demonstration at KAUST, capturing 1 ton of CO₂ per day.
• 2022 - Design and start construction of KAUST Mobile CCSC System – 1/4 ton of CO2 per day.
• Dec 15th 2022 - The mobile CCSC rig was unveiled by prominent industrial leaders from the SEC and the Ministry of Energy. At the same event, a contract was signed between the SEC and KAUST to develop and test carbon and sulfur co-capture.
• In Spring 2024 - The KAUST Trailer rig was commissioned and tested at KAUST before being deployed at the Power Plant for our key stakeholders.
• Nov 19th 2024 - The CCSC demonstration took place at the Power Plant in the presence of key stakeholders from the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), authorities from KAUST and the Ministry of Energy.

Problem

Exhaust from power plants, refineries and industrial plants adds CO2 to the atmosphere. CO2 emissions account for 76% of greenhouse gases that cause global warming. Current methods of capturing CO2 emissions can be costly and often produce unusable outputs.

Opportunity

Saudi Arabia has set a target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060. Low-cost capture of CO2 is vital for businesses to balance competing economic and environmental concerns. When captured in a pure form, CO2 can be used in food and beverages.

Solution

KAUST has developed techniques for capturing CO2 emissions from industrial sources that occupy less space along with lower operating expenses, and impose virtually no impact on ongoing plant operations, outperforming other available approaches.

The Future

KAUST will be testing their technology in a new NEOM power plant to demonstrate cryogenic carbon capture at scale. Within two years of opening, The plant is expected to capture 30 tonnes of CO₂ per day.