Hub-Only Pipeline Topology (HOPT)

A Scalable Architecture for Carbon Capture, Transport, and Storage

The Hub-Only Pipeline Topology (HOPT™) is a system-level architecture for deploying carbon capture, transport, and storage (CCUS) at scale—particularly in regions with dispersed industrial emissions and limited CO₂ pipeline infrastructure.

HOPT fundamentally rethinks how CO₂ is moved from emitters to storage by removing pipelines and gaseous CO₂ handling from emitting sites altogether and centralizing these functions at shared regeneration hubs.

The Core Idea

In conventional CCUS systems, each industrial emitter must:

handle gaseous CO₂ on site,
install compression and dehydration systems, and
connect directly to a CO₂ pipeline network.

This approach is expensive, slow to permit, and difficult to scale—especially where industries are geographically dispersed.

HOPT changes the topology.

Under HOPT:

CO₂ is captured at emitting sites in solid-bound form using solid-looping capture technologies.
CO₂-laden solids are transported using ordinary logistics (road, rail, conveyor, waterborne).
Only hubs regenerate the solids and release CO₂ in gaseous form.
Only hubs are connected by CO₂ pipelines.

Emitters never connect to pipelines and never manage gaseous CO₂.

How HOPT Works

Capture at Emitters
Industrial plants capture CO₂ using solid sorbents, producing CO₂-laden solids rather than gaseous CO₂.
Solids Transport
The solids are transported to centralized hubs using conventional logistics—no CO₂ pipelines, compressors, or high-pressure systems at the emitter.
Centralized Regeneration at Hubs
At hubs, the sorbent is regenerated:
- CO₂ is released in gaseous form,
- the regenerated sorbent is sent back to emitters for reuse.
Hub-to-Hub Pipelines
Pipelines connect only hubs (and storage sites), forming a simplified, high-utilization CO₂ transport network.

Why Hub-Only Pipeline Topology Matters

1. Emitters Are Freed from Pipeline Infrastructure

No pipeline tie-ins
No onsite compression or dehydration
No high-pressure CO₂ handling
Lower retrofit complexity and capital cost

2. Pipeline Networks Are Dramatically Shorter

Pipelines connect hubs, not thousands of emitters
Total pipeline length can be reduced by 60% or more
Faster permitting and lower infrastructure risk

3. CCUS Becomes Scalable and Inclusive

Small and mid-sized emitters can participate
CCUS-as-a-Service models become viable
Industrial clusters can grow incrementally

4. Complexity and Risk Are Centralized

Safety, regulation, and MRV are concentrated at hubs
Emitters operate simpler, standardized interfaces
Infrastructure becomes more bankable and governable

Where HOPT Is Most Relevant

HOPT is particularly suited for regions that have:

Dispersed industrial clusters
Limited or non-existent CO₂ pipeline grids
Complex land acquisition and permitting environments
Many small and mid-sized emitters
A need for phased, scalable CCUS deployment

This includes many emerging and industrializing economies, as well as dense industrial regions globally.

HOPT Is an Architecture, Not a Technology

HOPT does not prescribe:

Specific capture chemistries
Reactor designs
Pipeline specifications
Storage technologies

It defines:

Where functions occur
Who interfaces with whom
What is allowed—and what is not—at each system boundary

This makes HOPT technology-neutral and future-proof.

The HOPT Architecture Standard (HOPT-AS)

HOPT is formalized through the HOPT Architecture Standard (HOPT-AS), which defines:

Mandatory topology rules
System boundaries
Stakeholder roles and responsibilities
Allowed deployment configurations
Governance, registry, and certification frameworks

HOPT-AS exists to ensure that HOPT deployments remain:

interoperable,
scalable,
governable, and
credible across regions and stakeholders.

What HOPT Enables

Faster CCUS deployment without waiting for national pipeline grids
Lower total cost of capture and transport
Standardized participation for emitters, hubs, logistics providers, and storage operators
Clear alignment with policy, finance, and carbon market requirements

In Summary

HOPT shifts CCUS from a fragmented, emitter-centric pipeline model to a governed, hub-centric infrastructure architecture.

By separating capture from pipeline transport and centralizing complexity at hubs, HOPT enables CCUS to scale in places where conventional models struggle to deploy.

References

Chauhan, S., & Sinha, A. A Novel Pipeline Configuration for Carbon Dioxide Transportation. Indian Patent Application No. 202531094896, filed 02 October 2025.
Sinha, Arnab, A National Framework for Public Good: The Hub-Only Pipeline Topology (HOPT) for Carbon Dioxide Capture & Transportation (October 15, 2025). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=5608430 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5608430