A Flexible, Containerized CO₂ Logistics Solution

DecarbonICE is developing an alternative approach to CO₂ transport that addresses one of the key challenges facing the emerging CCUS market: how to efficiently connect smaller and geographically dispersed capture sites with CO₂ hubs, utilization facilities and permanent storage.

Instead of relying exclusively on pipelines, dedicated CO₂ tankers or pressurized liquid-CO₂ transport equipment, the DecarbonICE concept converts captured CO₂ into solid CO₂ (dry ice) for transportation in specially designed, insulated ISO containers at approximately atmospheric pressure.

The DecarbonICE solution covers the CO₂ logistics chain from conditioning and solidification through container loading, multimodal transportation and destination-side conversion back into liquid CO₂.

The concept consists of four main elements:

CO₂ solidification

Captured CO₂ is conditioned and converted into solid CO₂ suitable for efficient handling and transportation. DecarbonICE is also investigating technologies that can improve the efficiency of the gas-to-solid conversion process.

Containerized storage and transport

The solid CO₂ is loaded into insulated intermodal containers designed to minimize heat ingress and sublimation during transportation. Standard container dimensions enable the solution to utilize existing trucks, rail systems, container terminals and vessels without requiring an entirely new transport infrastructure.

Loading, handling and discharge

DecarbonICE is developing dedicated systems for safe and efficient loading, containment and discharge of solid CO₂. The system is being designed around automated operation, controlled CO₂ release, monitoring and compatibility with established container-handling infrastructure.

Re-liquefaction at destination

At a receiving hub or storage location, the solid CO₂ is transferred into DecarbonICE’s re-liquefaction system, where the energy associated with sublimation is utilized to convert the CO₂ into liquid form. The resulting liquid CO₂ can then be transferred to conventional storage, shipping, utilization or permanent geological storage infrastructure.

The concept is particularly relevant for small and medium-sized emitters, including biogas and biomethane facilities, waste-to-energy plants and industrial capture sites where dedicated pipeline infrastructure may not be available. Multiple containerized CO₂ streams can potentially be aggregated at regional hubs, creating a flexible feeder network into larger-scale CCUS infrastructure.

DecarbonICE is developing and demonstrating the technology together with industrial and research partners across the CO₂ value chain. Current development activities include container design, insulation, loading and discharge systems, CO₂ monitoring, solidification and desublimation technologies, re-liquefaction, process modelling and full value-chain optimization.

The ambition is not to replace pipelines or conventional liquid-CO₂ shipping, but to provide a complementary first- and last-mile logistics solution that can help connect more emitters to CCUS.

DecarbonICE – connecting captured CO₂ with storage through flexible, scalable and multimodal container logistics.