Application of carbon capture utilization and sequestration (CCUS) and hydrogen production technologies to the different industrial sectors of Kazakhstan for its carbon neutralization

Collaborative Research Program 2024-2026

Based on the fruitful research achievements from the previous CRP carried out by our research team (2020 – 2023) and university-industry partnership, the newly-proposed research project will guide the research team to the advancement of CCUS and hydrogen energy technologies from the fundamental scientific level to their applications and implementations in Kazakhstan. Through the combined research approaches, including qualitative and quantitative technology assessments, lab- and pilot-scale experimental tasks in geochemistry (geological CO2 storage simulation, etc.) and electrochemistry (fuel cells, etc.), geochemical modeling works, our research project aims:
- To estimate the GHG emission reduction capacity of CCUS in Kazakhstan industries (~100 industrial facilities in Kazakhstan will be covered)
- To develop a robust Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) protocol for CCUS technologies in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Central Asian countries
- To conduct resource assessments for blue and green hydrogen production in Kazakhstan
- To estimate the carbon footprint of blue and green hydrogen produced in Kazakhstan
- To prepare Ti-based hydrogen storage alloys by mechanical alloying (MA) method with a perspective of implementation of industry and LCA analysis of transportation of hydrogen storage alloys via railway in Kazakhstan
- To analyze the geochemical and geophysical responses of Kazakhstan geological formations during CO2 storage to assess its safety using the reactive transport modeling
- To investigate the effect of pressure, temperature, natural organic matters, and pH on CO2 dissolution in the geological media for optimal storage conditions
- To contribute to the R&D capabilities of Kazakhstan in low-carbon technologies such as CCUS and hydrogen production technologies through the training of graduate and undergraduate students
- To propose viable strategies for the successful CCUS and hydrogen production technology applications in Kazakhstan for the fulfillment of carbon-neutrality

We are now conducting hydrogeological and geochemical computational simulations on geological CO2 storage in Kazakhstan’s numerous oil fields (Ebeity, Kyiaktysai) and obtaining relevant geological parameters using a core flooding system with their core samples. Our preliminary simulation results have shown that CO2 can be safely sequestered in the oil fields for short-term and long-term CO2 storage (Seisenbayev et al., 2021a, 2021b).