Improving profitability with Valmet’s carbon capture pre-treatment
Did you know that a carbon capture plant should include integrated flue gas pre-treatment for optimal performance? Valmet’s pre-treatment solution removes impurities and recovers energy – ensuring reliable and efficient CO2 capture.
As energy producers and other industrial players accelerate their efforts to mitigate climate change, carbon capture technologies are becoming a common investment. However, capturing carbon dioxide is only part of the equation. Flue gas pre-treatment should be considered an essential part of the process to ensure a carbon capture plant’s optimal performance and longevity.
“Our customers are increasingly considering adding carbon capture plants to their facilities, but they often focus on capture chemistry, compression, transportation, and storage, while flue gas quality is overlooked. Fortunately, our carbon capture pre-treatment solution is becoming better known, and our experts are engaging more in customers’ projects and investments – spreading the word about the significance of flue gas pre-treatment for the entire process,” says Lari-Matti Kuvaja, Director, Environmental Solutions at Valmet.
Valmet’s pioneering carbon capture pre-treatment prepares flue gases for efficient carbon capture while recovering excess heat for reuse.
To further boost decarbonization by bringing integrated and flexible options to its customers within various industrial sectors, Valmet cooperates with multiple carbon capture technology suppliers, one of them being Saipem, a global technology leader in carbon capture solutions.
Why is flue gas pre-treatment important?
Effective flue gas pre-treatment is essential for a carbon capture plant’s optimal performance. “Without exception, all capture systems are chemically sensitive. Contaminants like SO₂, SO₃, NOx, particulate matter, and heavy metals don’t just complicate the process, they compromise it,” Kuvaja explains.
Lari-Matti Kuvaja, Director, Environmental Solutions, Valmet.
“For example, removing NOx reduces solvent decomposition during chemical absorption, which in turn reduces the need for solvent replenishment. Cutting particulate matter helps prevent deposits in process equipment while reducing acidic gases, thus decreasing maintenance needs and costs,” he continues.
In practical terms, flue gas pre-treatment results in lower solvent use, reducing solvent-related operating costs by 20 to 30 percent, as well as a more stable carbon capture process, improved heat recovery, and even potential revenue from selling recovered heat.
Pioneering technology boosts performance
Valmet’s carbon capture pre-treatment solution includes pioneering technology that prepares flue gases for efficient carbon capture while recovering excess heat for reuse in district heating networks, internal process loops, or heat pump integration. It is a comprehensive turnkey solution that prioritizes process efficiency, facilitates equipment protection, and safeguards against secondary emissions.
The system includes a condensing Valmet Flue Gas Scrubber (direct contact cooler, DCC) and a Valmet Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (WESP), ensuring thorough cleaning and conditioning of the gases before they enter the carbon capture process. This innovative approach not only reduces emissions but also enhances the carbon capture system’s overall reliability and performance.
“Our pre-treatment solution is applicable to a wide variety of gas streams and is always tailored to achieve the inlet conditions the customer’s carbon capture process requires. It can be added to existing plants and new installations. For best results, we recommend starting discussions with our specialists at an early stage of the investment,” Kuvaja says.
First carbon capture pre-treatment order
A significant milestone was reached when Valmet published their first order for the new carbon capture pre-treatment solution from an anonymous customer in the EMEA region in mid-June 2025.
“The first commercial solution was the outcome of a genuine partnership between the customer and us, as it required pioneering research and development work from both sides. We were really happy to support the customer with this transformative technology, boosting their drive toward a future with lower emissions. I’m sure flue gas pre-treatment will soon be mainstream, with most industrial players further enhancing their environmental performance,” Kuvaja says.
Text: Marianne Valta
