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Offshore wind projects may complicate CO2 storage, IEA says

Economy Materials 1 August 2022 10:42 (UTC +04:00)
Offshore wind projects may complicate CO2 storage, IEA says
Maryana Ahmadova
Maryana Ahmadova
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BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 1. Several risks may result from the development of offshore wind projects and Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) deployment in similar locations, Trend reports via the recent publication from the International Energy Agency (IEA).

According to the report, the physical infrastructure of pre-existing projects may block access to the seabed and may change the requirements for new projects, while overlapping projects may lead to an increased risk of impact on physical infrastructure or personnel.

“One emerging issue is the potential interaction between CCUS projects and offshore wind energy installations. Offshore wind platforms that are fixed to the seabed can increase the challenges in visualizing, characterizing, and monitoring potential CO2 storage sites,” the report said.

As the agency explained, the existing infrastructure for oil and gas (trunk pipelines, offshore platforms and site facilities) is particularly similar to the one needed for CCUS deployment. Thus, the use of these existing assets, especially offshore infrastructure, leaves room for potential cost savings for CCUS projects, if this existing infrastructure can be reused or repurposed after its commercial use for oil and gas production expires.

“While the feasibility of reusing oil and gas infrastructure for CCUS should be determined on a project-by-project basis, changes to legal and regulatory frameworks can provide general guidance on how to support this transition. Existing regulations covering decommissioning liability and well abandonment procedures are prime targets for evaluation,” the IEA noted.

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