NETL Director Brian Anderson shared the Lab’s contributions in addressing America’s long-term energy challenges while retaining environmental integrity at a gathering of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Energy Initiative.

Anderson highlighted NETL’s advances in cost-effective implementation of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies throughout the power-generation sector to ensure Americans continue to have access to clean, affordable and reliable energy. He also explained how NETL’s core competencies can be applied to many fields beyond fossil fuels.

“If you’re a good geoscientist, you can apply your skills in geothermal, carbon sequestration, oil & gas recovery, nuclear waste storage or even seismic predictions. We do the same,” Anderson said. “The message I wanted to get across is that we’re more than just a fossil energy laboratory. Yes, we’re the fossil energy laboratory, but we’re applying our expertise across many energy sectors.”

Anderson’s presentation at MIT focused on the Lab’s efforts to lower the nation’s costs of addressing carbon emissions with the right techniques and technologies.

For example, NETL’s Carbon Capture program has supported more than 180 second-generation R&D projects that have cut the cost of carbon capture by nearly 50% and reduced the energy penalty (the amount of generated energy used by carbon capture technologies) by nearly 20%. For example, NETL used its revolutionary computational framework to screen more than a million mixed matrix membranes (MMM) and to identify promising MMMs for post-combustion carbon capture. MMMs are projected to decrease the cost of carbon capture from $63 to $48 per metric ton of CO₂ removed. These membranes are now being scaled up for demonstration using actual flue gas at the National Carbon Capture Center in Wilsonville, Alabama, advancing their commercial feasibility.

Anderson will also highlight NETL’s Carbon Storage program, which helps to ensure safe, secure, efficient, and affordable CO₂ injection and containment in diverse geologic storage complexes. For example, NETL leads the National Risk Assessment Partnership (NRAP), which leverages DOE’s capabilities in science-based predictive modeling of engineered geologic systems to overcome barriers to large-scale deployment of geologic carbon storage. NRAP develops and demonstrates computational tools and methods to quantitatively assess and effectively manage risks related to potential leakage and ground motion at storage sites, and to inform monitoring design that builds confidence in system performance and verifies containment integrity.

NETL’s Carbon Utilization program promotes R&D that utilizes CO₂ to generate value-added products. NETL researchers are converting waste CO₂ into chemicals, offsetting CO₂ capture costs, facilitating clean and safe development of energy resources, and developing new markets and job opportunities.

The director also shared NETL’s work beyond power generation and carbon capture, such as materials engineering, fabrication, energy conversion and computer technologies, which can open the door to increased energy efficiency and longer service lives for the nation’s power plant fleet.

“It was a pleasure to return to MIT. More importantly, this was an excellent opportunity to display the fruits of NETL’s labor,” Anderson said. “The fact that the event so well attended demonstrates the vast interest that exists for keeping all options open, to power the future with the resources and technologies at our disposal in a sustainable manner.”

Anderson said his visit to Massachusetts also demonstrates NETL’s commitment to forging close ties with academia across the nation and the groundbreaking research that takes place at MIT that NETL can help take to the next level.

Anderson earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at West Virginia University and went on to earn his master’s and doctorate in chemical engineering from MIT. Prior to joining NETL, he was awarded an Honor Achievement Award from the Department of Energy in 2011 for his role on a team that responded to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He is a recipient of the 2012 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers.

NETL is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory that produces technological solutions for America’s energy challenges. From developing creative innovations and efficient energy systems that make coal more competitive, to advancing technologies that enhance oil and natural gas extraction and transmission processes, NETL research is providing breakthroughs and discoveries that support domestic energy initiatives, stimulate a growing economy, and improve the health, safety, and security of all Americans. Highly skilled men and women at NETL’s sites in Albany, Oregon; Anchorage, Alaska; Houston, Texas; Morgantown, West Virginia; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania conduct a broad range of research activities that support DOE’s mission to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States.

Anderson’s lecture on YouTube can be viewed here.