Gradyent and EBN partner to implement unique CCS software model for Porthos CCS project

Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN) has selected Gradyent to integrate, manage, and maintain a unique carbon capture and storage (CCS) software model developed in-house by EBN. This model will support the safe operation of the Porthos project, marking a key milestone in the Netherlands' effort to reduce CO₂ emissions. Gradyent emerged as the best candidate for this project in a European tender.

Porthos is building the first large-scale CO₂ transport and storage project in the Netherlands. It is a collaboration between EBN, Gasunie, and the Port of Rotterdam Authority. The captured CO₂, originating from industries in the Port of Rotterdam, will be transported and stored in depleted gas fields under the North Sea.

Porthos, when fully operational, will store 2.5 Mton of CO₂   per year for the next 15 years.  

Safe operation of the CCS system

Due to the scale and complexity of Porthos, ensuring safety is a top priority. The software model will track the entire CO₂ journey from emissions to storage, simulating the behaviour of CO₂ molecules throughout the system.

Precisely because of the complexity of the entire chain and the specific behaviour of CO₂, being able to predict its movement is crucial for maintaining safety margins. To address this, EBN has developed a unique 'end-to-end' model for Porthos, which Gradyent will implement.

"It is a milestone for EBN to be able to announce Calysto Porthos. We as EBN spend a lot of time and energy on research, building subsurface knowledge and monitoring tools. The more you know, the safer a process becomes. CO₂ has a specific behaviour. Prediction is crucial here. Porthos is also complex because of its scale. Namely, it includes from the start of the system more than 50 kilometers of pipeline onshore and offshore, after which the CO₂ then goes through 4 wells, each longer than 4 kilometers, to a depleted natural gas reservoir with a storage capacity of 37 million tons of CO₂, and this reservoir lies at a depth of 3 to 4 kilometers under the North Sea bed. So I am happy to see that we have found in Gradyent the party, who will implement and maintain this model within Porthos."

Yolande Verbeek, COO and interim Business Unit Director CCS, EBN.

In the coming period up to commissioning, the model will be implemented on Gradyent’s Digital Twin Platform and extensively tested to ensure integration with the Gasunie and EBN system.

"EBN is pushing the boundaries of CO₂ storage with Porthos, and meanwhile helping the Netherlands with its sustainability goals. We are proud to contribute as Gradyent by integrating, managing and maintaining EBN's Calysto Porthos model to support the safe operation of Porthos. This EBN model is unique because it models the total Porthos system, from pipeline to reservoir.  With this next step from heat infrastructure to CO₂ infrastructure, Gradyent broadens its capabilities to contribute to emission reduction with Digital Twins."

Robert Vrancken, CTO, Gradyent.

To read the full press release, please visit: https://www.ebn.nl/nieuws/ebn-kiest-gradyent-voor-uniek-ccs-softwaremodel-voor-porthos/