WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) has released a Request for Information (RFI) that seeks input to assist DOE in the planning of a consortium that will coordinate carbon dioxide (CO₂) transport research, development and demonstration (RD&D) efforts.

In February 2023, DOE FECM held a workshop with approximately 100 stakeholders from the public and private sectors to discuss applied research in CO₂ transport. Workshop participants encouraged FECM to develop a consortium to coordinate RD&D efforts in four topic areas — (1) impact of CO₂ impurities on the integrity of transport assets, (2) CO₂-specific leak detection and emergency response protocols, (3) repurposing existing infrastructure for CO₂ service and (4) connecting modes of CO₂ transport/multimodal hubs.

The consortium would also facilitate communication among stakeholders and compile and curate information in an open-access platform. It would be structured around committees that would share information about relevant ongoing RD&D activities, conduct information gap analyses, and promote synergies that could lead to research project formation and facilitate the performance of project peer reviews.

FECM would lead the consortium with technical coordination and logistical/administrative support from the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). The standing committees would consist of members from U.S. national labs, Federal and State agencies, non-governmental organizations, standards development organizations, academia,  industry owners and facility operators, service providers and equipment vendors, trade associations, manufacturing entities (for instance, pipe fabricators) and labor unions.

Through this RFI, FECM is seeking input from organizations and individuals that may be involved in CO₂ transport RD&D and interested in becoming a consortium member. The Carbon Transport Research, Development & Demonstration Consortium website outlines membership requirements. Interested parties are encouraged to visit the website and answer a brief series of questions that will be used by FECM to review interested individuals or organizations who wish to join the consortium.

Review the RFI for more information on eligibility requirements and about how to join. The consortium’s official launch is planned in 2025.

This RFI is not a funding opportunity announcement. DOE is not accepting applications to this RFI, nor will DOE reimburse any costs in preparing a response.

To review the RFI, please click here. Responses to this RFI must be submitted to RequestforInformationFOA3330@netl.doe.gov with the subject line “DE-FOA-0003330-RFI” no later than 5 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024.

FECM minimizes environmental and climate impacts of fossil fuels and industrial processes while working to achieve net-zero emissions across our economy. Priority areas of technology work include carbon capture, carbon conversion, carbon dioxide removal, carbon dioxide transport and storage, hydrogen production with carbon management, methane emissions reduction, and critical minerals production. To learn more, visit the FECM website, sign up for FECM news announcements, and visit the National Energy Technology Laboratory website.