From carbon management strategies to implementation: Modeling and physical simulation of CO2 pipeline infrastructure -- a case study for Germany

TL;DR

This study addresses the lack of a realized CO$_2$ pipeline backbone by integrating energy-system scenario analysis with a physical, multiphysics pipeline simulator. The authors couple scenario-derived CO$_2$ balances to a dense-phase transport topology that follows existing gas corridors and use the MYNTS platform with the GERG-2008 EOS to dimension pipelines, pumps, and operating conditions, explicitly accounting for elevation and impurities. The Germany case yields a feasible ~7,000 km dense-phase backbone with hybrid diameters (DN700 on core links and DN500/DN400 on branches) and an estimated investment around €€17$-$18B, highlighting the importance of terrain effects and impurity tolerance for robust design. The framework is transferable to other countries and European-scale planning, offering a reproducible approach for evaluating CO$_2$ transport infrastructure under uncertainty and across multiple decarbonization pathways.

Abstract

Carbon capture and storage or utilization (CCUS) will play an important role to achieve climate neutrality in many economies. Pipelines are widely regarded as the most efficient means of CO2 transport; however, they are currently non-existent. Policy-makers and companies need to develop large-scale infrastructure under substantial uncertainty. Methods and analyses are needed to support pipeline planning and strategy development. This paper presents an integrated method for designing CO2 pipeline networks by combining energy system scenarios with physical network simulation. Using Germany as a case study, we derive spatially highly resolved CO2 balances to develop a dense-phase CO2 pipeline topology that follows existing gas pipeline corridors. The analyzed system includes existing sites for cement and lime production, waste incineration, carbon users, four coastal CO2 hubs, and border crossing points. We then apply the multiphysical network simulator MYNTS to assess the technical feasibility of this network. We determine pipeline diameters, pump locations, and operating conditions that ensure stable dense-phase transport. The method explicitly accounts for elevation and possible impurities. The results indicate that a system of about 7000 km pipeline length and a mixed normed diameter of DN700 on main corridors and of DN500/DN400 on branches presents a feasible solution to connect most sites. Investment costs for the optimized pipeline system are calculated to be about 17 billion Euros. The method provides a reproducible framework and is transferable to other countries and to European scope.

Figures (9)

• Figure 1: Development of cement clinker production in the scenario
• Figure 2: CO$_2$ balance and temporal development of both scenarios
• Figure 3: CO$_2$ Topology
• Figure 4: Network topology showing (a) pipeline diameters and (b) pump placements, optimized for cost and hydraulic performance. Arrows indicate the flow direction.
• Figure 5: Fluid dynamic simulation results of (a) pressure and (b) temperature within the optimized CO$_2$ transport network, which can be seen in Figure \ref{['fig:topology_pics']}.