(39c) Process Safety in Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) Systems

In response to the climate crisis, the United States is embarking on an ambitious program to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity generation by 2035 and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The implementation of bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestration (BECCS) systems is an essential component of that strategy. BECCS is broadly defined as the utilization of biomass energy (from the processing of solids, liquids, or vapors) with the capture of carbon dioxide and subsequent permanent storage in a deep geological formation. There are numerous potential technologies and flowsheets for implementing BECCS, and the supply chains rely upon support from the agricultural, forestry, and solid waste industries.

Inherent in BECCS systems are the hazards associated with combustible dusts, spontaneous ignition and smoldering of combustible solids, flammable liquids, flammable vapors and gases, toxic gases, and high-pressure gases. Additionally, BECCS projects often require deployment at commercial scale to address inefficiency and cost constraints. With new technologies and new financial incentives come new stakeholders who have little or no familiarity with these hazards and no training in risk-based process safety (RBPS). This is a serious issue because there has been growing public opposition from communities and climate activists against BECCS technology. In this environment, a single process safety incident could cause the loss of the social license to operate. For BECCS to be deployed commercially across the United States, it is imperative that process safety risks are controlled. An RBPS program can help manage the risks of a BECCS facility and minimize process safety incidents.

In this presentation, we describe the primary BECCS system processes and identify their hazards. The BECCS supply chain is divided into three components: the bioenergy facility, pipeline transport, and the injection facility. Three representative bioenergy technologies are presented as mini-case studies to illustrate the range of process hazards encountered. Pipeline and injection are treated as separate components. Process safety strategies required by regulation are briefly reviewed and potential gaps are identified. We then demonstrate how RBPS can be implemented in a practical and effective manner by utilizing recognized and generally accepted good engineering practices (RAGAGEP).