CCS Project Database
Company/Alliance: Enel, Aker Clean Carbon
Location: Porto Tolle, Italy
Feedstock: Coal
Size: 250 MW (one boiler retrofit); 1 Mt/yr
Capture Technology: Post-combustion
CO2 Fate: Nearby offshore saline formation in Adriatic Sea
Start: Original timing: Construction (2011); Start (2015)
Currently: On hold while waiting for operating licence. Expected to finalize permitting in 2014
Motivation/Economics:
The project was awarded €100 million from EU government in December 2009 as part of government economic recovery act. Total project cost €2.5 billion ($3.6 billion). ENEL will receive a total of about €400 million from the EU toward the project.
Comments:
Enel is postponing making a start on its project in Porto Tolle to convert a fuel-oil burning plant to coal because it is still waiting for the operating license.
On May 17, 2011, Italy's top administrative court, Italy's State Council, annulled the Environmental Ministry's decree approving the Enel's Porto Tolle project. The decision came as a surprise to Enel who had initially received the approval from the Environment Ministry in July 2009 after 6 years of trying to obtain the approval. The court's decision to cancel the coal fired power plant was based on environmental grounds following complaints from green groups and local industry. Enel, who has already invested about 70% of the total investment, has decided to try and by-pass the ruling by using oil instead of coal to fire the power plant. This decision depends on new laws which are due to be approved in March 2012. If approved Enel can start construction on the power plant in 2012.
Enel is currently developing a small-scale pilot project at the Brindisi power station in order to test CCS capture before application to the full-scale demonstration project at Porto Tolle.
Project Link: Porto Tolle Project website
Other Sources and Press Releases:
Enel Post Combustion Carbon Capture Project
Enel's Italian Porto Tolle coal conversion timeframe uncertain: CEO (March 2012)
Enel aims to switch oil plant to coal in June 2012 (July 2011)
Italy's top court stops Enel's key coal conversion plan (May 2011)
Porto Tolle CCS project approval overruled (May 2011)
Enel to invest €1 billion ($1.38 billion) on CCS plant (March 2011)
Aker Clean Carbon wins FEED study (October 2010)
Enel Website
Awarded €100 million from EU government (December 2009)
Enel's CCS projects [PDF] (March 2009)
Date Modified May 13, 2013
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