Firms explore building carbon dioxide terminal at Seaport Manatee

Tampa-based Aptamus Carbon Solutions and Demeter Energy of Fort Myers have begun working together on a plan to develop a marine terminal in Manatee County.

Aptamus, an affiliate of Tampa’s Overseas Shipholding Group and part of the Saltchuk family of companies, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Demeter to “explore the development” of a terminal for the processing, liquefaction and loading of carbon dioxide at a biomethonal production plant.

(Biomethanol, according to a paper from the Dutch renewable energy company FincoEnergies, “is a renewable form of methanol produced from sustainable feedstock, such as waste streams of biogenic origin — manure, agricultural waste and food waste.”)

According to a statement, the agreement will allow Aptamus to identify optimal locations for a CO2 terminal at Seaport Manatee, develop a site plan and “design an appropriate new tank vessel.”

“Demeter intends to capture CO2 during its biomethanol production process before it is emitted into the atmosphere, a process known as carbon capture,” the statement says.

According to an Aptamus spokesperson, the company’s role is to develop the marine infrastructure to handle that captured CO2.

The proposed terminal at Seaport Manatee would receive the CO2, liquefy it and load it onto a vessel for transport to Texas or Louisiana for permanent sequestration or enhanced oil recovery, the spokesman says in an email.

“The vessel is part of that same system, not a separate project. Aptamus is exploring a new vessel that could transport both biomethanol and liquefied CO2.”

The process is in the early stages, and there is a belief that a financial investment decision can be reached within a year, the spokesperson says. After that, construction of the vessel and terminal would take three to four years.

As for the cost, a feasibility study is underway.

Demeter Energy’s biomethanol and carbon capture facility in Manatee is expected to produce approximately 100,000 metric tons of low carbon biomethanol annually while capturing approximately 200,000 metric tons of CO2 per year, according to the statement.

“The project," says the statement, "will create a reliable market for sustainably sourced urban wood and green waste generated by Florida's year-round growing season, while supporting global decarbonization efforts by providing low carbon fuel of the maritime sector, or supplying feedstock for Sustainable Aviation Fuel or for chemical manufacturing.”

Aptamus designs CO2 tank vessels and terminals for the storage and liquefaction of captured CO₂. The company says it been chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy to design and engineer a CO2 loading and processing terminal at Port Tampa Bay and a discharge terminal at LBC Tank Terminals in Louisiana. 

Aptamus also designed a CO2 Articulated Tug and Barge.