DOE’s Carbon Utilization Program aspires to develop technologies to transform CO2 and other carbon
byproducts and wastes into valuable products in an efficient, economical, and environmentally-friendly manner.
Research and development activities address the challenges and potential opportunities associated with integrating a
CO2 utilization system with various power and industrial plants or carbon capture systems, such as waste
heat integration, wastewater reduction, flue gas contaminant reduction, and reduced energy demand. An ongoing
program objective is to make technologies applicable for near-term implementation. Developing advanced catalysts,
reactor systems, and processes for more efficient conversion of CO2 to valuable chemicals to provide a
viable alternative to conventional manufacturing processes.
The emerging field of CO2 utilization encompasses many possible products and applications: fuels, organic
and inorganic chemicals, food and feeds, construction materials, enhanced resource recovery (e.g., oil, gas, water,
and geothermal energy), energy storage, wastewater treatment, and others.
Major Carbon Utilization Product Pathways
The Carbon Utilization Program covers research within three of the four primary carbon utilization pathways currently
identified by the program:
Carbon Uptake using Algae – The use of CO2 in agricultural and aquacultural systems
for the cultivation and harvesting of biomass. Algae are extremely efficient photosynthetic organisms –
sometimes referred to as CO2 eating machines. The biomass produced in algal systems can be processed
and converted to fuels, chemicals, food for fish, animals and humans, soil supplements, and other specialty and
fine products.
Conversion into Fuels and Chemicals – The conversion of CO2 into valuable organic
products, ranging from neat fuels and fuel blending stocks to commodity, specialty, and fine chemicals.
Conversion pathways can include thermochemical, electrochemical, photochemical, non-equilibrium plasma chemistry
and microbially-mediated approaches. Many conversion pathways require catalysts or integrated processes to lower
the energy needed to drive these systems. This pathway can transform wasted carbon into products such as
synthetic fuels, chemicals, plastics, and solid carbon products like carbon fibers.
Mineralization into Inorganic Materials – The reaction of CO2 to produce inorganic
products, such as carbonate cements and aggregate, or bicarbonates and associated inorganic chemicals. Carbon
dioxide mineralizes with alkaline reactants, which can include industrial wastes from power plants, steel and
other industries. Carbonate materials may be an effective long-term storage option for CO2 especially
for use in the built environment.
CO2 as Working Fluid & Other Services* – The physical use of CO2 in
processes, such as enhanced oil recovery (EOR), the use of CO2 as a solvent, and the use of
CO2 as a refrigerant. R&D in technologies that use CO2 for EOR is a focus in NETL’s Carbon Storage Program. The Carbon Utilization Program
is not currently pursuing technologies in this CO2 utilization pathway.
The diverse portfolio of NETL’s Carbon Utilization projects can be viewed in the interactive map below. Projects can
be sorted by Technology Area. Clicking on a location allows you to learn more about each individual project and
adjusting the Icon Spread Factor allows you to simultaneously view projects with the same locations.
