U.S. DOE Invests Nearly $14 Million to Advance Technologies that Transform Carbon Emissions into Valuable Products

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Tasks Will Assist Develop Extra Markets for Carbon Dioxide-Based mostly Options

The U.S. Division of Power’s (DOE) Workplace of Fossil Power and Carbon Administration (FECM) at present introduced $13.7 million in federal funding for 4 tasks that can advance large-scale conversion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions into environmentally accountable and economically beneficial merchandise. With funding offered by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation, tasks will assist develop conversion applied sciences that feasibly produce essential fuels, constructing supplies, and different carbon-based merchandise from captured carbon emissions.

“Chemicals production and petroleum refining industries are vital for the U.S. economy and our nation’s energy security, but are also responsible for significant carbon emissions,” mentioned Brad Crabtree, Assistant Secretary of Fossil Power and Carbon Administration. “DOE’s investments in carbon conversion technology will support new economic opportunities and job creation, while providing lower-emissions carbon product alternatives for these industries at the same time.”

The chosen tasks will help two areas of focus: (1) engineering-scale testing of electrochemical methods for changing carbon dioxide emissions into value-added merchandise, corresponding to engineering polymer/resin precursors, specialty chemical compounds, and commodity chemical compounds; and (2) feasibility research that look at retrofitting refineries and petrochemical amenities for carbon conversion:

• Dioxide Supplies Inc. (Boca Raton, Florida) plans to scale know-how for the manufacturing of low-greenhouse fuel ethanol and mevalonic acid by way of a mixture of electrolysis and bioprocessing.
• Terraforma Carbon LLC (State Faculty, Pennsylvania) goals to judge the technical and financial feasibility of carbon seize and conversion to methanol by modeling a retrofit of Shell’s Norco refinery in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana utilizing molten salt-based seize know-how.
• Thiozen Inc. (Pasadena, California) plans to discover using a hydrogen sulfide reforming know-how to supply low-cost and low-emissions methanol.
• Twelve Profit Corp. (Berkeley, California) seeks to speed up the manufacturing of low-carbon chemical compounds and syngas by way of fast analysis, growth, and deployment of its CO₂ electrolyzers.

DOE’s Nationwide Power Expertise Laboratory (NETL), below the purview of FECM, will handle the chosen tasks. A detailed list of the selected projects can be found here.

These tasks help the objectives of DOE’s Clean Fuels and Products Energy Earthshotwhich goals to fulfill projected 2050 net-zero emissions calls for for 100% of aviation gas; 50% of maritime, rail and off-road gas; and 50% of carbon-based chemical compounds through the use of sustainable carbon assets.

FECM reduces emissions from fossil power manufacturing and use and key industrial processes, whereas strengthening U.S. power and significant minerals safety. To study extra, go to the FECM website, sign up for FECM information bulletins, and go to the National Energy Technology Laboratory website.