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According to the latest IEA report, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) from fossil fuel fired power plants is a key option to mitigate CO2 emissions in the 450 scenario. In addition it is the only technology capable of large CO2 emission reduction from industrial applications and in combination with biomass firing the only currently available technology for reducing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere by means of negative emission performance. Alstom develops CCS technologies for post- combustion and oxy-combustion, and have shown that these technologies can compete with renewable power generation on the basis of Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCoE). It is now essential that governments give the same priority to CCS as to renewables in order for large demonstration plants to be built, a necessary step in the development of the technology. The Norwegian Government, through its special purpose company Gassnova, is at the forefront of making this happen by construction of the world's largest test site for Carbon Capture. The Technology Center Mongstad (TCM) is owned by Gassnova, Statoil, Shell and Sasol. The unique location of TCM, next to the Mongstad refinery, provides interesting opportunities in terms of gases to be treated. The plant at TCM is designed to treat both refinery off-gas from a cracker operation as well as the exhaust from a gas turbine based combined heat and power plant. In addition, the captured CO2 can be recycled to achieve any CO2 concentration between 4 and 13% by volume. The Alstom Chilled Ammonia Process (CAP) is post-combustion technology that captures CO2 emitted from power plants or industrial sources. Deployment of this technology requires operating data and validated simulation tool for design that can evaluate various CAP configurations to achieve the lowest possible capital cost, energy demand and operating cost. A special focus will be directed to the CAP Installation at TCM, which was commissioned in 2012. The plant is designed to treat both refinery off-gas from a cracker operation as well as the exhaust from a gas turbine based combined heat and power plant.This paper will report on the first results of Chilled Ammonia Process (CAP) as part of Alstom's development program of commercial solution for carbon capture, at Technology Center Mongstad in 2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Despite the wide diversity of available solar technologies, solar energy systems are still not considered as main stream technologies in building practice. This may be attributed to several factors such as lack of awareness and knowledge among architects, lack of tools supporting the design process, and lack of solar products designed for building integration. In order to address these issues, the IEA SHC Task 41 “Solar Energy and Architecture” was carried out during 2009 to 2012. The main aim was to promote the use of solar energy systems within high quality architecture. The main expected outcome is an increased use of solar energy in buildings, reducing the non-renewable energy use and GHG emissions. Fourteen countries participated. The work was organized in three subtasks: A) integration criteria and guidelines, B) tools and methods for architects, and C) case studies and communication guidelines. This article presents an overview of the Task''s activities and results. The results include an inventory of computer tools, a literature review, a survey on solar systems perception and use by architects, a survey on needs regarding tools for solar design, recommendations for computer tool developers and different guidelines for solar product developers and architects. Finally an extensive collection of more than 250 case studies with integration of solar systems was evaluated and resulting in the online publication of around 65 selected cases demonstrating inspiring solar architecture. The results of Task 41 are also currently being disseminated through seminars and workshops for building professionals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The objective of Task 44 of the Solar Heating and Cooling program of the IEA is to assess performances and relevance of combined systems using solar thermal and heat pumps, to provide a common definition of performances of such systems, and to contribute to successful market penetration of these new promising combinations of renewable technologies. The Task is also Annex 38 of the Heat pump program and thus called T44A38. It gathers 12 countries and 55 participants.This paper presents the mid term results of the activity, which started in January 2010 and will last until December 2013. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]