Gulf Construction Online - New carbon capture measurement solution

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Carbonated concrete blocks stored at Carbonaide’s facility.

New carbon capture measurement solution

01 December 2024

Vaisala, a global leader in measurement technology, has launched a new tool, MGP241, that measures carbon dioxide (CO₂) and humidity and is specifically designed to bring transparency to carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) projects.

CCUS is a field that has sparked a lot of public debate – and investments. Knowing exactly how much and what quality carbon has been captured is essential if CCUS is to become a viable addition to the toolset against climate change, says the Finland-based company.

Both governments and private companies need CCUS to reduce and offset carbon emissions if they are to meet their reported decarbonisation targets. However, with current technology still not ready for widespread use, constant, and accurate measurement of captured carbon is vital to ensure its continued development.

Salovaara with the MGP241 tool developed by Vaisala.

The MGP241 multigas probe offers always-on data at a third of the cost compared to measurement solutions generally used in CCUS processes today, states Vaisala.

“No one knows yet if CCUS will indeed grow to be a significant solution in our fight against climate change. The technology is still in its early stages. What we can solve now is how to make measuring these projects as transparent and efficient as possible to leave no room for guesswork or sugarcoating the results – our numbers don’t lie,” says Julia Salovaara, Strategy and Business Development Manager at Vaisala.

CRITICAL INDUSTRIES DEPEND ON CCUS

CCUS has already seen some major investments. According to BloombergNEF, a record $6.4 billion was invested into CCUS technology in 2022, more than doubling from the year before and with the US leading the way with 45 per cent of the total investments. Yet, many projects are behind schedule or not producing their promised results.

The success of CCUS technology is especially critical for hard-to-abate industries like materials manufacturing, energy production, and the chemical industry. With high emissions and few other significant solutions beyond improving their energy efficiency, these industries experience increased pressures from regulators and the public to decarbonize their operations.

One especially crucial industry is the cement industry that alone emits seven per cent of global CO₂. Additionally, the global demand for cement is expected to increase 12–23 per cent by 2050. One of the early success stories, Carbonaide, helps the cement industry utilise captured carbon dioxide in concrete manufacturing.

Through the carbonisation process, Carbonaide’s technology reduces the amount of cement needed in concrete production. While the reduction of cement needed is remarkable, 20–100 per cent, the process also creates a permanent storage for the carbon captured from an emission source.

Carbonaide partnered with Vaisala from the start to make sure they know exactly what is happening in each step of the process and, eventually, how much carbon is stored.

“Globally, Carbonaide’s technology has the potential to store 500 megatons of CO₂ annually by 2050 in precast concrete products – roughly the same annual emissions of France and the UK combined. The investment case we offer our customers is entirely based on accurate measurements and transparency. With Vaisala, we can trust that the numbers we share with our partners are correct,” says Jonne Hirvonen, Chief Operating Officer at Carbonaide.

Speaking to Gulf Construction, Hirvonen elaborates that Carbonaide’s technology can potentially store 500 megatons of CO2 annually by 2050 through two primary applications:

• Dry-pressed concrete products, such as pavements, mid-walls, and unreinforced blocks. The total global potential for carbon capture in this segment is estimated at 230 megatons annually. Carbonaide aims to become a dominant player in this segment, capturing a significant portion of the potential.

• Elemental structures, including larger structures like buildings and bridges. The total global potential for carbon capture in this segment is estimated at 840 megatons annually.

Carbonaide aims to enter this market within the next two years and capture a smaller share of the potential.

“Notably, the CO2 utilisation aspect is even more critical in the elemental structure market, as our technology can enhance curing efficiency with multiple binders,” he adds.

Transparent measuring at a significantly lower cost

MPG241 measures carbon dioxide and humidity in point source and direct air carbon capture processes, and in different carbon utilisation and storage projects.

Unlike traditional gas analysers, Vaisala’s MGP241 requires no expensive calibration gases, needs dramatically less maintenance, and promises a 10+ year lifespan in heavy-duty use. The compact size and in-situ design of the instrument has allowed for competitive pricing – around a third of the price of most common solutions in the market, according to the manufacturer.

“Our new probe measures directly in the gas flow and shows test results in real time. This level of transparency and proof is essential for process optimisation, building trust with stakeholders, and demonstrating genuine commitment to sustainability,” concludes Salovaara.