Unified SimCCS Platform for Decision-Making in Carbon Capture, Transport, and Storage Infrastructure

Abstract

The Unified SimCCS Platform, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, is a state-of-the-art optimization tool designed for the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure. Over a decade of refinement, SimCCS has evolved into a robust system capable of modeling CCS networks at both regional and national scales. With its cutting-edge features—such as phased deployment, multi-modal transport, onshore/offshore transport modeling, and transport risk and safety assessment—SimCCS empowers researchers, stakeholders, and policymakers to make informed, sustainable decisions for a cleaner future. Unified SimCCS Platform integrates five key modules: NICO2LE, SCO2T, CostMAP, SimCCS, and SAFETY. By leveraging user-provided data on CO2 sources, sinks, and transportation routes, SimCCS formulates an optimization problem that pinpoints the ideal design for CCS systems. SimCCS has gained wide recognition as a critical decision-making tool for CCS infrastructure. Its ability to streamline complex planning processes and optimize system designs positions it as a game-changer for the carbon capture and storage community. By advancing the development of CCS systems, SimCCS is set to play a key role in achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, accelerating global efforts to combat climate change.

Keywords: CO2 transport, SimCCS, optimization, decision support, global application