This document discusses key air quality issues related to carbon capture and storage (CCS) and the alignment of standards between the International Air Quality Management (IAQM) organization and the Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA). It summarizes that CCS involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial facilities and storing it underground. It notes several technical air quality challenges including the formation of nitrogen-containing compounds from the reaction of solvent amines used in carbon capture with nitrogen oxides, the lack of environmental standards for many compounds related to CCS, and the need to assess cumulative impacts from multiple emission sources within industrial areas employing CCS.

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Carbon Capture
(Utilisation) and
Storage – Alignment of
IAQM and CCSA
October 2023
Dr. Chris Hazell-Marshall
Associate Technical Partner, Air Quality

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What is CCS?
RTCA CCS 2
Carbon-
based fuel
CO2 removed
from exhaust
gases
CO2 sequestered into
permanent geological
storage
CO2 reused
Industrial
plant
Other gases vented to
atmosphere Capture can be:
• amine absorbent (most common)
• other solvents (emerging)
• cryogenic (for high CO2 gas
streams such as oxy-
combustion)
• solid absorbent with regeneration
Numerous applications:
• retrofitted to (just about) any
industrial processes for post-
combustion capture
• pre-combustion at new facilities
(blue hydrogen)
• Why aren’t we doing it already?
• Costs less to emit to atmosphere
• Numerous technical challenges
• Enabling projects required
CO2
absorber
CCS buys time by
allowing the continued
use of fossil fuels whilst
the true circular
economy based on
renewables, hydrogen,
net zero fuels etc. is
developed

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Multiple, complex air quality issues
RTCA CCS

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Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA)
RTCA CCS 4
• CCSA is the Industry Body for Carbon Capture and Storage
• UK, EU, EU Zero Emissions Platform and getting into North America
• Responsible for driving the agenda on all aspects of CCS
• Technical Working Group for Planning and Permitting
• Air Quality a key technical challenge
• CCSA set up ‘Path to permitting workshops in May and July 2023
• 4 Key Topics Emerged…

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N-Amines
RTCA CCS 5
• Solvent amines selectively strip CO2 from exhaust gases
• Oxides of nitrogen react with amines to form N-Amines
• N-amines are chemically reactive in the atmosphere
• Complex modelling required to capture atmospheric chemistry
• Environmental Assessment Level is very low (0.2ng/m3)

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Environmental Assessment Levels (EALs)
RTCA CCS 6
• Carbon Capture is using novel compounds (amines and others)
• If present in the exhaust gases emissions and impacts must be assessed
• No EALs for multiple compounds
• CCS Industry tasked with developing EALs, complimented by work by the
Environment Agency
• ‘Hierarchy’ of EALs

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Emission Limit Values (ELVs)
RTCA CCS 7
• No established ELVs for Carbon Capture plants
• Retain ELVs for facilities
• Complimentary ELVs specific to the Carbon Capture plant
• Monitoring requirements:
• Very low concentrations
• Reactive compounds

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Cumulative Assessment
RTCA CCS 8
• Most carbon capture plants within Industrial Clusters
• Multiple sources of new emissions impacting same receptors
• Humans – N-amines (and VOCs)
• Habitats – ammonia, nutrient nitrogen and acid deposition
• ‘First of the rank’ cannot use all headspace

9. www.erm.com RTCA CCS 9
Dr. Chris Hazell-Marshall
Associate Technical Partner
Chris.hazellmarshall@erm.com
+44 (0) 7720 416 367
+44 (0) 117 910 6744