The abatement cost enables the comparison of the cost of different options to reduce emissions by one tonne of CO₂. It is determined partly by the CAPEX (investment) and fixed OPEX required to implement a particular option

A suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets, in air or another gas

Derivatives of ammonia used as solvents in the post combustion CO₂ capture process to absorb CO₂ from the flue gas stream

The layer of gases surrounding the earth; the gases are mainly nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (around 21%)

The quantity of CO₂ present in the atmosphere

Capital expenditure

The fraction of CO2 separated from the gas stream of a source

The removal of CO₂ from a process stream or from the atmosphere to produce a highly pure stream of CO₂ amenable for conversion or storage

A colourless, odourless gas formed by carbon and oxygen to be found in the atmosphere and underground

A process for retaining captured CO₂ so that it does not reach the atmosphere

The process of moving captured CO₂ through a pipeline, or by other means, e.g. road, rail or shipping, from its source to a suitable storage site

A range of technologies that use or convert captured CO₂ to make valuable fuels, feedstocks, chemicals, building materials or other products

CO₂ compression and liquefaction unit

Carbon Capture and Storage

CCS readiness index

Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage

The long-term average of weather in a region, typically averaged over a period of 30 years

A change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods

Any actions taken to limit the magnitude or rate of long-term global warming and its related effects

Any technology designed to either remove CO₂ from the atmosphere or to prevent the release of CO₂ generated through power generation and industrial processes

The release of CO₂ into the atmosphere over a specified area and period of time

A measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases on the basis of their global-warming potential (GWP), by converting amounts of other gases to the equivalent amount of CO₂ with the same global warming potential

Carbon dioxide enhanced oil recovery

Unwanted chemicals contained within the combustion gas as a result of contaminated fuel, e.g. sulphur

The removal of or reduction in the carbon intensity of a process or an entire economy

Dissolved oxygen removal technology tested in REALISE. DORA is designed to remove dissolved oxygen from liquid CO₂ capture solvents

European Commission

Enhanced oil recovery 

Education and public engagement

European Union

Fluid catalytic cracking, one of the most important conversion processes used at refineries. It is a chemical process that uses a catalyst to break down petroleum crude oils into petrol and other products

The gas that exits via a flue, which is a pipe or channel for gases from a fireplace, oven, furnace, boiler or steam generator. It often refers to the combustion exhaust gas produced at power plants

Buried combustible geologic deposits of organic materials, formed from decayed plants and animals that have been converted to crude oil, coal, natural gas, or heavy oils by exposure to heat and pressure in the Earth’s crust over hundreds of millions of years

Injection of CO₂ into suitable deep rock formations where it can remain stored

10⁹ tonnes, billion tonnes

The increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century and its projected continuation

A naturally occurring process that aids in heating the Earth's surface and atmosphere. It results from the fact that certain atmospheric gases, such as CO₂, water vapour, and methane, are able to absorb longwave radiation emitted from the Earth's surface

A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation, e.g. carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

short name of the solvent used in REALISE

International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas Research and Development Programme

Iron removal integrated system. By removing iron from the solvent, degradation is lowered, as are the environmental impacts and the costs of CO₂ capture

Monoethanolamine. Aqueous monoethanolamine has been used as benchmark solvent in CO₂ capture systems due to its fast absorption kinetics, high cyclic capacity and low cost

10⁶ tonnes, million tonnes

In CCS, thin sheets of material that can separate CO₂ from other gases acting like a sieve

A mobile CO₂ capture test unit used in REALISE

A global initiative working to accelerate clean energy innovation, http://mission-innovation.net/

The permanent removal of CO₂ from Earth’s atmosphere

The ratio of energy input to useful energy output

Nonlinear model predictive control

Nitric oxide

Nitrogen dioxide

Sum of NO and NO₂

Oil and gas

Operating expenditure

A pilot study, project, test or experiment is a small scale preliminary study conducted in order to evaluate feasibility, duration, cost, adverse events, and improve upon the study design prior to performance of a full-scale test

Separating CO₂ from other waste gases after a fuel is burned

The removal of CO₂ from fuels prior to a fuel being burned

key cross-border infrastructure projects that link the energy systems of EU countries. Intended to help the EU achieve its energy policy and climate goals, they benefit from accelerated planning and finance

A production facility converting raw material into products of value. Oil refineries convert crude oil into product oils like gasoline

A modification of existing equipment to upgrade and incorporate changes after the initial installation. In CCS, this might be retrofitting a power station for CO₂ capture, or retrofitting an oil platform for CO₂ injection

integrating energy consumers with power producers

Sulphur dioxide

State-of-the-art

In CCS, a liquid that can absorb CO₂

Oxides of sulphur

a method for producing syngas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide) by reaction of hydrocarbons with water. Natural gas is usually the feedstock. The main purpose of this technology is hydrogen production

A type of measurement system used to assess the maturity level of a particular technology. Each technology project is evaluated against the parameters for each technology level and is then assigned a TRL rating based on the project’s progress. There are nine technology readiness levels. TRL 1 is the lowest and TRL 9 is the highest

SINTEF CO₂ capture pilot plant located in Trondheim, Norway

Units of related tasks which are used to break projects up into smaller chunks