TotalEnergies starts up "3D" carbon capture system in Dunkirk

French energy giant TotalEnergies announced that the “3D” industrial pilot to demonstrate an innovative process for capturing CO2 from industrial activities is now running at ArcelorMittal’s Dunkirk site.

With support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program, the project aims to validate replicable technical solutions for carbon capture. The “3D” project, driven by a consortium including TotalEnergies, ArcelorMittal, Axens and IFP Energies Nouvelles (IFPEN), is a major step towards decarbonising heavy emitting industries, such as steelmaking.

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The project was launched in May 2019, and the building of the demonstrator began in 2020 under Axens’ supervision. Last December, the pilot’s main modules were delivered and assembled at ArcelorMittal’s site in Dunkirk. The phases of building the pilot and connecting it to the plant have now been completed, and the unit is ready for start-up.

“This carbon capture pilot is a big step towards decarbonising the industry: it is being tested in steelmaking, but can also be applied to refining processes, contributing to TotalEnergies’ net zero ambition for 2050, together with society," said Marie-Noëlle Semeria, Chief Technology Officer at TotalEnergies. 

"We need to capture and store residual emissions: that’s why our R&D teams are working alongside our partners to develop expertise throughout the CO₂ capture, storage and use process. we are looking further ahead, in our research centres, to those that will deliver tomorrow’s breakthroughs."

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The project is a vital driver for reaching the targets of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. It includes twelve partners from research and industry in six European countries: ArcelorMittal, IFPEN, Axens, TotalEnergies and its affiliate GreenFlex, ETH, DTU, AirProducts, John Cockerill, Gassco, Brevik Engineering and Seqens. The project also has two sponsors: Suez and Lhoist. 

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