To find effective ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, Amber Grid, the Lithuanian gas transmission system operator, commissioned by the Ministry of Energy, has carried out an assessment analysis of green technologies for CO2 (biogenic carbon dioxide) capture and use in Lithuania. CO2 capture will become critical to achieving a climate-neutral economy and reducing CO2 emissions in industry, transport, energy production and other sectors across Europe.

Green CO2 is released by decomposition, combustion and recycling of biomass that has absorbed CO2 from the atmosphere during its growth. With the application of specific technologies, green CO2 can be used to produce sustainable products with higher added value.

Recently, scientists and businesses in various countries have been actively assessing how to make efficient use of the captured green CO2. One of the most attention-grabbing areas is the use of captured CO2 for the production of synthetic fuels (synthetic methane, methanol, aviation fuels, etc.), thereby reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

CO2 is an important component in the production of synthetic green fuels

“Imagine a future where agricultural, forest, industrial and food waste can power ships and planes. This is no longer a figment of the imagination, but a tangible reality which is already being implemented in other countries and which could be pursued by Lithuania in the future. The biogenic CO2 collected from biomass recycling processes could be converted into synthetic green fuels by combining it with hydrogen produced from renewable electricity. This would be a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuels and could contribute to Lithuania’s self-sufficiency in domestically produced fuels, exerting no negative impact on climate change,” says Danas Janulionis, Head of the Energy Transformation Centre at Amber Grid.

“Amber Grid’s analysis shows that there is potential for green CO2 capture from biomethane and biofuel production, biofuel and waste combustion processes in Lithuania. Such quantities of CO2 capture in Lithuania could amount to up to 3.5 million tonnes annually in a couple of decades. However, the specific projects to be implemented will depend on the demand for green CO2 for the production of various products and a number of other factors. CO2 capture projects require significant investment and a coordinated approach to the implementation of CO2 capture and utilisation projects. The identified potential for biogenic CO2 in Lithuania will open up the debate and contribute to the formulation of public policy in the energy and transport sectors. It will also enable more efficient development of solutions for the production of synthetic fuels and other products using CO2 in Lithuania.

Benefits for nature and the economy

Carbon dioxide is conventionally classified according to its origin into fossil CO2, biogenic CO2 and atmospheric CO2. Fossil CO2 is produced in cement, steel, chemical production and fossil fuel combustion processes. Such CO2 emissions should be reduced or transported for long-term storage in geological structures and only used for the production of various synthetic products during the transition period.

Green CO2 can be used to produce sustainable products through the application of specific technologies, just like atmospheric CO2 captured directly from the atmosphere. This would allow the CO2 naturally absorbed by vegetation to return to the atmosphere.

A summary of the analysis and the main results are available here.