The Vietnam Petroleum Institute (VPI) has commissioned Black & Veatch to study carbon-cutting technologies at three coal-fired power plants owned by Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam). The plants include Vung Ang 1 in the central province of Ha Tinh province, Song Hau 1 in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang, and Thai Binh 2 in the northern province of Thai Binh. Each plant has a capacity of 2 x 600MW.

“This is the first carbon capture study to be conducted on coal-fired power plants in Vietnam and its findings can help define the development of our national CCUS roadmap and legal framework,” said VPI senior expert Nguyen Huu Luong.

The study’s objective is to investigate the current carbon capture technology landscape and evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of applying that technology to the flue gas produced by coal-fired power plants.

“Deploying advanced technologies such as CCUS can help power producers and heavy industries reduce emissions in the region,” said Narsingh Chaudhary, president of Black & Veatch’s Asia-Pacific and India business. “Black & Veatch is committed to providing diverse and advanced solutions to help the Asia-Pacific energy industry and existing asset owners to meet growing energy demands with lower and no-carbon energy sources.”

As part of the front-end loading study, Black & Veatch will prepare a carbon capture technology assessment, evaluate and propose technology suitable for each power plant, and develop preliminary conceptual design for the carbon capture unit. Black & Veatch will also outline strategies to connect the carbon capture unit to the existing power plant.

Vietnam’s energy plan for 2021-2030 encourages the adoption of CCUS solutions in industrial production facilities and power plants to achieve a capture capacity of about one million metric tonnes (mt)/year by 2040 and three million to six million mt/year by 2050.

Black & Veatch has been a market leader in studying and implementing carbon capture technology for more than 30 years. The company has extensive experience in the analysis and detailed design of CO₂ capture, as well as CO₂ compression and handling systems.

It has evaluated multiple technologies where CO₂ can be put to use, including methanol and synthetic natural gas production, as well as bioprocesses utilising CO₂. Black & Veatch has regulatory and market experience to evaluate and support the growth and planning of carbon capture and utilisation or sequestration projects.