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column. The CO₂ is then ready for FIGURE 3 TYPICAL CCS PROCESS CHAIN
compression and conditioning.

Compression and conditioning
The separated CO₂ would be subject
to further conditioning at the power
station and industry sites before
being compressed for transport. The
level of post-conditioning of CO₂
for transportation depends on the
downstream CO₂ properties required.
The higher the level of conditioning
applied to the input CO₂ gas, the drier
(less water molecule content) the FIGURE 4 METHANE REFORMING CCS PROCESS CHAIN
final CO₂. The dry CO₂ is then either
compressed at a low pressure for gas
transportation or to a high pressure for
liquid transport.
Transport
The regulations and design codes
around natural gas pipelines in Europe
and Ireland are well established⁶. Irish
standards for pipelines⁷ do not consider
CO₂ as a specific named substance;
however, the Canadian and Australian
standards do address CO₂ transportation
as part of CCS systems (CSA Z662 and FIGURE 5 HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF GNI PIPELINE AND KINSALE AREA GAS FIELDS (SOURCE - GAS NETWORKS IRELAND)
AS 2885 respectively). An International
Standards Organisation (ISO) working
group has been established to work on
a standard to harmonise the design,
construction and operation of CCS
infrastructure. This working group has
published several standards including
ISO 27913:2016 Carbon dioxide capture,
transportation and geological storage
-- Pipeline transportation systems⁸. This
standard provides specific additional
requirements and recommendations not
covered in existing pipeline standards
for the transportation of CO₂ streams
from the capture site to storage facility.
Gas Networks Ireland supplies gas to
the Aghada and Whitegate CCGT power
plants from Lochcarrig Lodge above
ground installation (AGI). There is also
a pipeline connecting Aghada power
plant to Inch Terminal to the south, via
Ardrabeg AGI. Inch Terminal connects
out to the Kinsale Head gas field via
a 24-inch export pipeline. The CO₂
captured at the Cork CCS project could
be transported to the depleted offshore
Kinsale Head gas field via the network
of existing gas transmission pipes
supplemented with a small element of
new pipeline where required.

Storage
The SEI/EPA (2008) and Schlumberger/
Kinsale (2011) studies all concluded
that the Kinsale Head gas field off
the Cork coast is a potential store for
CO₂. The Kinsale Head gas field was
identified as the most appropriate CO₂

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