Point Source Carbon Capture

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Advancing technologies for the capture of CO2 from point sources, such as natural gas power and industrial facilities, with minimum cost and energy penalty

The U.S. Department of Energy/National Energy Technology Laboratory’s (DOE/NETL) Point Source Carbon Capture Program is developing the next generation of advanced carbon dioxide (CO2) capture concepts to support the United States in achieving ambitious goals for a greenhouse gas (GHG)-neutral economy by 2050, a carbon-pollution-free power sector by 2035, and a 50% reduction from 2005 levels in economy-wide net GHG pollution by 2030. DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) has adopted a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach for carbon management that involves the coupling of carbon capture methods (i.e., Point Source Capture (PSC) for fossil fuel-based power generation and industrial sources; and carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies co-located with low-carbon energy sources) with long-duration carbon storage or CO2 utilization/conversion into long-lasting products. The PSCC Program is accelerating commercially deployable solutions that can be applied to a wide spectrum of CO2 emissions sources, including facilities that produce power, hydrogen, ethanol, cement, or steel. Projects range from conceptual engineering and materials design at laboratory and bench scale (Technology Readiness Level [TRL] 2-5) to large-scale testing and front-end engineering and design (FEED) studies (TRL 6-7) to lower both capital and operating costs and improve the economics of PSC.

The Point Source Carbon Capture Program is advancing technologies to minimize the environmental impacts of fossil fuel-based power generation and to decarbonize existing infrastructure in the power and industrial sectors. Research and development (R&D) efforts to date have led to reductions in both capital and operating costs through implementation of energy and process efficiencies and development of advanced CO2 capture media (e.g., solvents, sorbents, and membranes). To achieve deep decarbonization of emissions sources, the program is focused on developing highly efficient, scalable carbon capture technologies with even further cost reductions, that are capable of operation under a flexible duty cycle, and that can achieve greater than 95% carbon capture.

Point Source Carbon Capture

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Capture from Power Generation Sources

Point source CO2 capture in fossil fuel-based power production separates CO2 emissions from the plant’s exhaust gas or syngas stream. The Point Source Carbon Capture Program is focused on advancing novel carbon capture materials, equipment, processes, or a combination thereof for applications in natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power generation. R&D is underway to support testing of highly efficient component designs, material systems, and/or integrated processes and to conduct FEED studies for commercial-scale CO2 capture at existing NGCC power plants.

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Capture from Industrial Sources

Point source CO2 capture from industrial facilities, such as mineral production (cement and lime) plants, iron and steel manufacturing plants, hydrogen production plants, and ethanol plants—in which CO2 emissions may be present at a higher concentration than fossil fuel-fired power plants—is a vital element in reducing CO2 emissions. R&D is underway to test transformational capture technologies for industrial carbon capture and to conduct initial engineering design and FEED studies on commercial-scale capture systems that separate CO2 emissions at industrial facilities.

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Emissions Control

Point sources of CO2 such as power plants can result in output of byproduct residuals that can either be gainfully recycled or end up as a disposal liability. Also, various non-CO2 emissions may be impacted as CO2 capture retrofits are applied. R&D is underway to develop technological improvements and solutions for management, disposition, and remediation of these residuals and non-CO2 emissions. Possibilities to increase beneficial use of residuals, to safely manage and disposition aging inactive/legacy residuals impoundments, and to use innovative technologies such as plant-based stabilization and monitoring in environmentally sound approaches, are in scope of investigation. These efforts will promote environmental justice and help advance decarbonization efforts over the coming decades.

Key Analysis Areas

Solvents

Solvent-based CO2 capture involves chemical or physical absorption of CO2 from a gas into a liquid carrier. R&D of advanced solvents (e.g., water-lean solvents, phase-change solvents, high-performance functionalized solvents) that have a lower regeneration energy requirement than existing amine systems, combined with high CO2 absorption capacity and tolerance to impurities, is a key objective for lowering capture costs. System advancements include process intensification techniques, methods to mitigate aerosol formation and corrosion, and heat integration approaches.

Sorbents

Sorbent-based CO2 capture involves the chemical or physical adsorption of CO2 from a gas using a solid sorbent. R&D objectives include low-cost durable sorbents that have high selectivity for CO2, high CO2 adsorption capacity, resistance to oxidation, and can withstand multiple regeneration cycles with minimal attrition. System advancements include sorbent process intensification techniques, novel reactor designs, and enhanced process configurations, such as rotating beds for CO2 adsorption and desorption.

Membranes

Membrane-based CO2 capture uses permeable or semi-permeable materials that allow for the selective transport and separation of CO2 from a gas. Membrane processes offer potential advantages when compared to other CO2 separation technologies, including no hazardous chemical storage, handling, disposal, or emissions issues; simple passive operation; tolerance to high sulfur oxide [SOX] and nitrogen oxide [NOX] content; a reduced plant footprint; and efficient partial CO2 capture. R&D objectives include development of low-cost, durable membranes (e.g., polymeric membranes, mixed matrix membranes, sub-ambient temperature membranes) that have improved permeability and selectivity for CO2, thermal and physical stability, and tolerance to gas contaminants. Process enhancements for membrane-based capture systems include low-pressure drop membrane modules.

Novel Concepts

Novel concepts include alternative technologies and processes, such as cryogenic separation and electrochemical membranes, and additive manufacturing of novel system components and materials. R&D objectives include development of equipment, materials, and processes that enable intensified thermodynamic operations, improve process performance, and reduce equipment size, lowering capital and operating costs.

Hybrid

Hybrid systems efficiently combine two key technologies in a single system (e.g., sorbent-membrane system). Hybrid concepts can reduce the overall energy intake of the process by leveraging process synergies, resulting in a more cost-effective system.

Enabling Technologies

Enabling technologies are concepts that could improve a whole class of materials, and although the research might be applied to one specific material, it is envisioned that substantial research findings could benefit multiple materials. R&D topics include solvent aerosol emissions mitigation, solvent viscosity reduction, solvent stability improvements, materials compatibility, corrosion resistance improvements, and degradation products reduction or separation.

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DOE To Invest $30 Million in Carbon Conversion and Highly Efficient CO2 Capture Technologies  
FOA000-2614: CARBON MANAGEMENT: Funding will support the Nation’s commitment to using carbon emissions as a feedstock for value-added products and developing lower-cost, highly efficient technologies for point source CO2 capture.

Request for Information: DE-FOA-0003263-Industrial Deployment and Demonstration Opportunities for Carbon Capture Technologies  
RFI seeking input to assist DOE in the planning of priorities and initiatives to catalyze the development, demonstration, and deployment of carbon capture, conversion, and storage technologies to decarbonize America’s industrial sectors.  

DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) Selects Four Projects as Part of the Carbon Capture Large-Scale Pilot Projects Program 
DOE OCED announced up to $304 million in funding for four projects—in KY, MS, TX, and WY—as part of the Carbon Capture Large-Scale Pilot Projects Program, which supports projects that implement carbon capture technologies at the pilot scale across the power and industrial sectors.

DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) selects three projects as part of the Carbon Capture Demonstration Projects Program
DOE OCED announced up to $890 million in funding for three projects — in CA, ND, and TX — as part of the Carbon Capture Demonstration Projects Program, which aims to advance integrated carbon capture, transport, and storage technologies and infrastructure that can be deployed at power plants and in hard-to-decarbonize heavy industries.

DOE/FECM issued NOI DE-FOA-0003232 for DE-FOA-0002614 titled Carbon Management (Round 5)
Proposed Areas of Interest for Round 5 of DE-FOA-0002614 include R&D on technologies that utilize CO2 from point sources such as power/industrial flue gas and direct air capture to produce value-added products and the development of enabling technologies that support demonstration of carbon capture systems installed at electric generation or industrial facilities.

News: 2023 FECM / NETL Carbon Management Research Project Review Meeting Proceedings Posted
The proceeding from the 2023 FECM / NETL Carbon Management Research Project Review Meeting held August 28 - September 1, 2023 are posted for the following programs: Point Source Carbon Capture, Carbon Dioxide Removal, Carbon Conversion, and Carbon Transport & Storage.

DOE/FECM Project Selections for Funding Opportunity Announcement 2614: Carbon Management (Round 3)
$45.6 million in federal funding announced for nine projects that will advance carbon dioxide (CO2) capture technologies and help build a foundation for a successful carbon transport and storage industry in the United States.

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