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At least 721 records · Page 40

Roads to Removal: Options for Carbon Dioxide Removal in the United States

Our analysis shows it is feasible for the United States to remove a staggering amount of CO 2 from the air—this will be critical to becoming carbon neutral by 2050. Our comprehensive, first-of-its-kind, county-resolution analysis indicates that our country can accomplish this goal by relying on demonstrated technology, natural resources, and workforces we already have. Additionally, ongoing technology development can lower costs, shorten timelines, and deliver new solutions. Our analysis evaluated how we can use forests, cropland soils, and waste biomass, along with purpose-built machines, to get us to net-zero. Further, we considered community impacts and identified locations where certain solutions could be uniquely beneficial or potentially counterproductive. Our findings enable decisionmakers to weigh both opportunities and constraints and to decide what roads to use to meet our national climate goal for net-zero CO 2 emissions.

03 NATURAL GAS↗

RECLAIM: Electrochemical Lithium and Nickel Extraction with Concurrent Carbon Dioxide Mineralization

This project aims to develop technologies toward the production of Li and Ni from CO 2 -reactive minerals and rocks that contain Ca and Mg, while sequestering CO 2 . The technologies include acoustic stimulation and electrolytic proton production, which use electricity to liberate valuable metal ions from the surrounding mineral matrix at sub-boiling temperatures (~20-80°C). Feedstocks include Li/Ni/Ca/Mg-rich igneous and sedimentary rocks and minerals such as holmquistite, hectorite, lateritic Ni ores enriched in Mg-rich serpentine. Other examples of feedstocks that could be used include coarse grained orthocumulate, mine tailings, etc. In the first step, the electrolytic breakdown of water to H + and OH – (as well as O 2 and H 2 ) will be induced by applying an electric potential to simultaneously produce acidity and alkalinity. The solid feedstocks will be dissolved in the acidic anolyte under acoustic stimulation. Solubilized species will then undergo separation using our unique Li + -selective membranes driven by electrodialysis, leading to concentration of Li as soluble lithium silicate, from which Li 2 CO 3 can be derived by reaction with CO 2(g) while supplying cathode alkalinity. Also at the cathode, stepwise electrolytic precipitation of metal hydroxides, including Ni(OH) 2 , Ca(OH) 2 , and Mg(OH) 2 is performed along a cascade reactor in which both the applied potential and pH increase downstream, thereby simultaneously extracting and separating the metals. Finally, exposure of Ca(OH) 2 and Mg(OH) 2 to dilute CO 2 will result in CO 2 uptake in the form of Ca and Mg carbonates. The primary accomplishments include sample procurement and characterization. Progress has been made on precursor identification and mapping, establishing protocols for assessing metal extractability under sonication, and preliminary technoeconomic analysis (TEA) and life cycle analysis (LCA).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Direct Air Capture-Based Carbon Dioxide Removal with United States Low-Carbon Energy and Sinks

The overall objective of this project was to complete an initial design of a commercial-scale, Carbon Capture and Storage system for Direct Air Capture (CCS-DAC) that separates and stores a minimum of 100,000 tonnes/year (t/yr.) net CO 2 from air. Three geographically diverse host sites will be used to determine the impact of different climates on the design and cost of the CCS-DAC systems; California (dry-hot), Louisiana (humid-hot), and Wyoming (mid-continental). In addition, the impact of using different low-carbon energy sources was also examined. The focus of this project was to geologically store the CO 2 , rather than the utilization of CO 2 . This Final Scientific/Technical Report is a collection of the deliverables for the project. The project team was able to successfully complete all the necessary tasks needed to determine the feasibility of the designs and operational needs of the DAC systems for each location. The data created by this allowed the project team to conduct the required evaluations to meet the requirements of the deliverables. The following deliverables were drafted and submitted to DOE prior to the conclusion of the project: (1) Initial Engineering Design; (2) Costing Estimate; (3) Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA); (4) Life Cycle Analysis (LCA); (5) Business Case Assessment; and (6) Technology EH&S Risk Assessment.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Quality Guidelines for Energy System Studies: Carbon Dioxide Transport and Storage Costs in NETL Studies

Transport, storage, and combined T&S costs are reported in this guideline as first-year break even (FYBE) costs in real 2023 dollars per metric ton (tonne) (2023$/tonne). These FYBE costs are from the perspective of a CO 2 pipeline project owner and/or a CO 2 saline storage project owner, and represent a minimum price the owner(s) can charge a CO 2 capture project owner over 30 operating years to transport and/or store a tonne of CO 2 and remain economically viable.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Comparative Life Cycle Analysis of Carbon Dioxide Utilization in Concrete Products

In this study, a comparative LCA of CO2U concrete processes is conducted, revealing promise in several research areas. The environmental impacts of replacing conventional binder and aggregates with carbonated steel slag and direct carbonation of concrete are investigated in ten different product systems, which include both ready-mix and pre-cast concretes. The results indicate that cement substitution, CO2 uptake, electricity consumption, and the electricity grid mix constitute critical levers for deep decarbonization of concrete building materials. This presentation applies LCA to inform the use of CO2U concrete technology pathways in the design of sustainable concrete while promoting transparency and rational assumptions in the presence of uncertainty. Broader themes in the work include LCA of emerging technologies and the sensitivity of LCA results to co-product management methods.

Clarke, James↗

NORTH DAKOTA CARBONSAFE PHASE III: SITE CHARACTERIZATION AND PERMITTING OF GEOLOGIC STORAGE OF CARBON DIOXIDE

The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC), in partnership with Minnkota Power Cooperative Inc. (Minnkota), SLB, and Computer Modelling Group Ltd. (CMG), supported wide-scale deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) as part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE) Initiative Phase III. This phase included the acquisition, analysis, and development of information to fully characterize two storage complexes to demonstrate viable storage resources for commercial volumes of CO2 (defined by DOE as a minimum of 50 million tonnes [MMt] of CO2 within a 30-year period) (National Energy Technology Laboratory, 2024). Phase III also involved the preparation, submission, and approval of North Dakota underground injection control (UIC) Class VI storage facility permits (SFPs)—required precursors to applications for Class VI injection well permits. The presumed viability of commercial-scale CCS, situated adjacent to Minnkota’s Milton R. Young Station (MRYS), is validated by Minnkota’s continued pursuit of Project Tundra—an initiative to build the world’s largest lignite-based CCS project in central North Dakota (www.projecttundrand.com). Project Tundra comprises two scopes of work, Tundra Capture (installation of postcombustion CO2 capture at MRYS) and Tundra SGS (secure geologic storage). The efforts of North Dakota CarbonSAFE Phase III, Site Characterization and Permitting, supported Tundra SGS. Extensive site-specific characterization activities included a successful multimeasurement geophysical approach and drilling a stratigraphic test well (J-ROC 1, subsequently renamed Liberty-1) adjacent to MRYS. Core collection and analyses, downhole testing and fluid sampling, and geophysical logging were performed on J-ROC 1 and on a nearby stratigraphic test well (known as J-LOC 1), which was drilled, cored, and tested under a complementary project funded by the North Dakota Lignite Research Program. The injection tests performed on J-LOC 1 positively impacted the CarbonSAFE project, resulting in fewer proposed injection wells and significant construction, operations, and monitoring cost savings. The characterization data collected and analyses performed were integrated into geologic models, and successive numerical simulations were run to determine CO2 plume extent and subsurface pressure buildup associated with the planned CO2 injection rate of nearly 4 MMt per year. The latter doubles the CarbonSAFE Initiative goal with an estimated 100 MMt of CO2 stored in 20 years. Application of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) method for estimating the Class VI Rule area of review (AOR) to the overpressurized Broom Creek Formation inspired an alternative method of calculation, called risk-based AOR delineation. This peer-reviewed method was applied for the first time during the storage facility-permitting process. The two SFP applications submitted in 2021 successfully resulted in North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC) orders in 2022 authorizing the creation of the storage facility areas and amalgamation of pore space as well as establishing financial responsibility requirements. After approval of the SFPs, Minnkota filed in 2022 applications for permits to reenter the J-ROC 1 well and to drill two new wells—all with the intended purpose to become Class VI injection wells. To establish eligibility under the Internal Revenue Code for Section 45Q tax incentives, a monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) plan was prepared and submitted by Minnkota to EPA in 2022, resulting in the first such plan approved in North Dakota. Also in 2022, under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Minnkota prepared and submitted an environmental information volume (EIV) describing the proposed CCS project and associated potential environmental impacts. Based on the EIV, DOE determined that the proposed construction project required an environmental assessment, and Minnkota submitted the first draft in 2023 and a revised draft in 2024. Both submissions were followed by a public comment period. Subsequently, DOE issued a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) on September 13, 2024. A successful outreach program, strongly based in the production, presentation, and dissemination of informational material, fostered an environment to aid stakeholders in making informed decisions regarding the planned project. Opportunities for public input were provided at various steps along the way, including at county planning and zoning meetings, before and during the SFP administrative hearing, and during environmental assessment public comment periods. In addition, land/pore space owners and mineral owners had various points of contact, including granting access rights, securing pore space leasing, and mineral owner notifications. Based upon the successful storage facility permitting issued by NDIC, approval of the MRV plan by EPA, and receipt of a FONSI under the NEPA, Minnkota is continuing its pursuit of Project Tundra. In December 2023, the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations under its Carbon Capture Demonstrations Projects Program announced funding for the capture system (Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, 2023) and a proposal for CarbonSAFE Phase IV: Construction funding was submitted in March 2024 for the storage project. A go/no-go decision to proceed with construction and operations in the Broom Creek Formation is anticipated in 2024. References National Energy Technology Laboratory, CarbonSafe Initiative, https://netl.doe.gov/carbon-management/carbon-storage/carbonsafe (accessed August 2024). Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, 2023, OCED selects three projects in CA, ND, and TX to reduce harmful carbon pollution, create new economic opportunities, and advance carbon reducing technologies, December, www.energy.gov/oced/articles/oced-selects-three-projects-ca-nd-and-tx-reduce-harmful-carbon-pollution-create-new (accessed August 2024).

Peck, Wesley↗

Enhanced Rock Weathering for Carbon Dioxide Removal: Life Cycle Analysis and Techno-Economic Assessment

The study models enhanced rock weathering (ERW) using minerals such as basalt and olivine in terrestrial environments. Our analysis shows potential for ERW CO2 removal and storage costs to approach US$ 100 per tonne (t) of CO2 removed and stored under certain conditions (2023 dollars). In the environmental analysis, the 100-year global warming potential impact with igneous rock and industrial waste materials ranges from 34–263 and 23–180 kg CO2-eq per tonne of CO2 removed and stored, respectively (these values result in overall emissions (removed minus emitted) between –977 and –737 kg CO2-eq net removed per tonne of CO2 removed and stored, meaning for every tonne of CO2 removed by ERW, after accounting for the CO2 equivalent emissions from the GWP, the overall emissions are negative.

Priyadarshini, NFN [NETL Site Support Contractor, ↗

Cell-free bioelectrocatalytic platform for carbon dioxide reduction (Final Technical Report)

The University of Minnesota (UMN) EcoSynBio Team aimed to develop a cell-free, enzyme-based platform for the electro- biocatalytic conversion of CO2 into formate as a platform chemical for further upgrading. This type of bio electrocatalytic process delivers a clean product stream without the need for extensive separation from the electrolyte as in electrochemical synthesis and microbial processes. The reduction reaction is catalyzed by metal-dependent formate dehydrogenases (mFDHs) that are capable of efficient electrocatalytic CO2 reduction without the need of costly co-factors. The development of an efficient, scalable electrobiocatalytic process with high total turnover numbers and viable space time yields, however, was not without its challenges. The UM team has developed a protein-based scaffolding system that facilitates enzyme stabilization and attachment to electrodes along with electron transfer. Yet, although FDHs are highly promising enzymes for cell-free, electrobiochemical CO2 reduction, they are also greatly understudied and especially for applications in electrocatalysis. The UM team used the best described mFDH from Clostridium as its benchmark system and spent significant time and effort in attempting to replicate published data and finally, redesigned a recombinant production system for proper metal co-factor incorporation. The UM team has also identified a small set of new enzyme homologs from extreme microorganisms with superior stabilities that have yielded initial structural data for further engineering. In addition, a new bioelectrocatalytic reactor system has been developed that can be 3D printed and used for enzyme attachment to electrodes. In summary the project has generated critical basic information for the further development of this class of enzymes for the electricity driven reduction of CO2 into formate as platform chemical for upgrading into various other chemicals, including fuels.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Critical Component/Technology Gap in 21 st Century Power Plant Gasification Based Polygeneration: Advanced Ceramic Membranes/Modules for Ultra Efficient Hydrogen (H 2 ) Production/Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) Capture for Coal-Based Polygeneration

The 21 st Century Power Plant Gasification Based Polygeneration power plant layout is a relatively straightforward retrofit of well-established ammonia synthesis technology to the baseline IGCC process and envisions co-production of power and chemicals from coal in the context of carbon capture. A Dual Stage Membrane Process (DSMP) for pre-combustion CO 2 capture in a coal fired IGCC power plant has been demonstrated by Media and Process Technology Inc (MPT) (DE-FE0013064) in bench-scale live gas testing at the NCCC. This work, however, highlighted the importance of permeate purge capability to deliver deep H 2 recovery at moderate pressures and high carbon capture performance. Further, in the area of warm gas processing, a permeate purgeable membrane support for a wide range of inorganic high-performance membrane materials (CMS, Pd-alloy, zeolite, ZIF, graphene, etc.) was not available and hence had been a common and significant barrier to their commercialization. Hence, the Critical Technology Gap to implementing the DSMP in the Polygeneration power plant and more broadly in advanced warm gas separation applications was the inability to permeate purge the membranes coupled with the lack of the availability of a high packing density scalable package design. To overcome this Critical Technology Gap, in this project, the primary objective was the development of a permeate purgeable full ceramic support for these high-performance inorganic membranes and the complementary high packing density housing. Our goal and approach were to extend our “candle filter” design to a “dual end open” package to enable permeate purge and scalability. Microporous ceramic membranes have been proven to be a low cost, stable material for high temperature applications under harsh environment. They are the leading support choice of researchers in advanced inorganic membrane development in applications such as pre-combustion CO 2 capture. The new 2nd Generation “dual end open” bundle developed in this project is a universal support for these existing and emerging inorganic membrane technologies that up to now have lacked a pathway out of the laboratory. The full ceramic permeate purgeable support represents a transformational technology and opens the door to commercialization of these advanced membrane materials in a wide array of mega scale commercial applications in gas (and liquid) processing under aggressive conditions not suited to conventional polymeric membranes.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

Acoustic Emissions Sensing for Tracing Carbon Dioxide Movement in Caprock of a Carbon Capture Utilizations and Storage System (CCUS) (Final Technical Report)

The overall objective of this research project was to develop a non-invasive acoustic-emission (AE)-based technology that can accurately predict the location and movement of CO 2 through a confining layer in a carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) system. Specifically, the aim was to explore the feasibility of using the Haines jumps AEs as a passive method to track movement of CO 2 in reservoirs used for CCUS applications.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Plasma Assisted Catalytic Conversion of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Propane to Propylene and Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Presented at the NETL Project Review Meetings (virtual) in 2021, the presentation summary includes the following status updates: -Initiated synthesis, characterization and testing of various supported metal catalysts -Some catalysts show greater than 90% propylene selectivity -Plasma testing shows greater than 80% propane conversion without a catalyst -Feasibility of the CO2-ODH reaction with plasma demonstrated at much lower temperatures than conventional processes -Presence of CO2 enhances propane conversion in the plasma reactor

Zhou, S. James↗

Plasma Assisted Catalytic Conversion of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Propane to Propylene and Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Presented at the NETL Project Review Meetings in 2022, the presentation summary includes the following status updates: -Feasibility of the CO2-ODH reaction with plasma demonstrated at much lower temperatures than conventional processes -Presence of CO2 enhances propane conversion in the plasma reactor -Ce doped, 5 wt.%/CexZr1-xO2 catalyst demonstrated enhanced selectivity and stability for propylene production via CO2-ODH process under thermal conditions -Comprehensive characterization coupled with designed catalytic experiments identified Cr3+ as the active site CO2-ODH proceeds via dehydrogenation route -Coke formation, which causes catalyst deactivation, inhibited by both Ce and CO2

Zhou, S. James↗

Advanced Ceramic Membranes/Modules for Ultra Efficient Hydrogen (H2) Production/Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Capture for Coal-Based Polygeneration Plants: Fabrication, Testing and CFD Modeling

Inorganic membrane-based systems are a promising technology for precombustion CO2 capture with simultaneous H2 production. State-of-the-art packages for high temperature and pressure service consist of multiple tube membrane bundles prepared in a "candle filter" configuration, in which the membrane tubes are open at one end and sealed at the other. This configuration is used for practical reasons, specifically the need to minimize problems due to thermal expansion mismatch between the ceramic tube bundle and the steel housing. However, the primary technical problem with the candle filter format for commercial-scale installations is the inability to purge the tube side (typically the permeate side), a feature that is crucial for high H2 recovery. In this study, the focus is to design and fabricate the first dual-end open full ceramic multiple tube membrane bundle that enables tube side (permeate) purge for gas separation applications. An additional key feature of this design is the simplified module layout, as the membrane bundles can be installed end-to-end with tube side (permeate) flow directly from one bundle to the next. This layout simplifies the membrane to housing seals and yields significant improvement in membrane packing density. Detailed focus areas in our studies include: (i) Materials development and preparation of the tube-to-tube sheet potting for the dual-ended bundle; (ii) the sealing and optimal module configuration design to minimize membrane stress upon module mounting; (iii) the demonstration, via the fabrication of CMS and Pd-alloy membranes supported on full-size, dual-ended ceramic support bundles, of the first example of a purgeable ceramic membrane and module; and (iv) development of a CFD model of the membrane module for calculation of feed flow distribution, and for use in scale-up, and capital cost estimating. The CFD model was validated using experimental data with the multi-tubular membrane system, employing He/N2 as a model gas mixture (surrogate for H2/CO2), and has been shown to be quite accurate. Employing the model, we are able to study the effects of operating pressure and temperature, feed and sweep gas flow rates, and the choice of membrane tube configuration on system performance.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗