Powering the future of carbon capture: the role of synchronous motors

Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) is an increasingly vital tool in the global effort to combat climate change. As industries and governments strive to meet ambitious climate goals, CCUS is playing a growing role in tackling carbon emissions from hard-to-abate industries like steel, chemicals and power generation and blue hydrogen production.

However, CCUS is an energy-intensive process itself which puts a premium on energy efficiency, reliability, and circularity – and because it requires motion at every stage, it needs motors which embody these principles. The best technology for this task is medium-voltage synchronous motors.

Importance of CCUS in power generation

While CCUS deployment has been slow, momentum has grown substantially. According to the IEA, around 45 facilities already use CCUS in industrial processes and power generation. Given that power generation accounts for nearly 40% of global energy-related emissions, deploying CCUS in this sector is essential.

CCUS operates through three stages: capture, transport, and storage. During the capture stage, CO₂ emissions are separated from flue gases using post-combustion, pre-combustion, or oxyfuel combustion methods. The captured CO₂ is then compressed using high-efficiency compressors powered by medium-voltage synchronous motors.

Then, the CO₂ is transported via pipelines or ships to storage sites, including deep geological formations like saline aquifers. In the storage stage, CO₂ is injected into these formations under high pressure, ensuring it remains securely stored. This process relies on durable, energy-efficient motors that power the compressors and pumps involved in each phase.

For traditional fuel power plants, implementing CCUS is essential to reducing emissions while maintaining energy security. The right motor technology ensures CO₂ is effectively captured without imposing excessive energy penalties on the plant – medium-voltage synchronous motors provide a stable and energy-efficient solution for driving compression and injection systems, ensuring that plants operate with reduced financial and environmental impact. Additionally, by capturing and storing the CO₂ emitted during the process of producing hydrogen from fossil fuels, CCS is essential in facilitating the transition from grey hydrogen to blue hydrogen, a lower-carbon alternative.

In renewable energy generation, CCUS can capture and store emissions from bioenergy sources, creating a net-negative carbon footprint. Here, synchronous motors help maintain operational efficiency by offering high reliability and extended lifespan, reducing maintenance requirements. Additionally, their capability to provide reactive power compensation by balancing the power factor improves grid stability, which is crucial as renewable energy sources become more prominent in the power mix.

Advantages of medium-voltage synchronous motors

Medium-voltage synchronous motors produce high levels of torque and allow for precise control over speed and power output – essential features for driving large-scale compressors and pumps. This precise control and ability to run at constant speed regardless of the load ensures that energy losses are minimised, making the CCUS process more efficient. These features contribute to reducing the operating costs and environmental footprint of power plants.

While traditional motors may suffer from inefficiencies that increase energy consumption and costs, synchronous motors are optimised for efficiency, which reduces the operating cost per unit of CO₂ capture and makes CCUS implementation more economically feasible. Another advantage of synchronous motors is their seamless integration into existing infrastructure and scalability for future expansion. Their customisation allows industries to tailor motor specifications to meet specific operational requirements, further optimising the CCUS process.

Additionally, synchronous motors support circular economy principles by being durable and requiring minimal maintenance over their lifespan. Their extended lifespan reduces the need for frequent replacements, leading to lower material waste. Synchronous motors are also 98% recyclable, with the remaining 2% of materials available to be incinerated for heat recovery, further enhancing their sustainability.

Future innovations

As technology continues to advance, further improvements in synchronous motor design are expected to enhance their role in CCUS applications. The trend towards digitalisation in industrial operations also means synchronous motors are increasingly integrated with smart monitoring systems, enabling predictive maintenance and real-time performance optimisation.

CCUS implementation is poised to increase as industries prioritise decarbonisation, increasing demand for highly efficient and reliable motor solutions. Medium-voltage synchronous motors will remain a cornerstone in helping power plants tackle emissions while maintaining competitiveness in the evolving energy landscape.

Whether in traditional fuel power plants or renewable energy facilities, medium-voltage synchronous motors provide the performance, reliability, and scalability needed to ensure the success of global CCUS deployment and implementation.

Read the latest issue of Oilfield Technology magazine for upstream news, project stories, industry insight and technical articles.

Oilfield Technology’s January/February 2025 issue

The January/February 2025 issue of Oilfield Technology includes keynote articles on enhancing offshore safety and risk management; technical articles on digital technology, drilling, EOR, and flow control. We also cover predictive maintenance, and production monitoring.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/product-news/11032025/powering-the-future-of-carbon-capture-the-role-of-synchronous-motors/