DOE Selects Seven Projects for CO2 Utilization Funding

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Fossil Energy has awarded a total of $5.9 million to seven projects focused on novel uses of carbon dioxide (CO₂).

The projects were selected under the DOE’s carbon storage program. “This portfolio will develop and test novel approaches that convert CO₂ captured from coal-fired power plants to useable products. The projects will also explore ways to use captured CO₂ in areas where high-volume uses, like enhanced oil recovery, may not be optimal or the use could partially offset the cost of carbon capture technologies,” according to a February 22 department press release.

The projects fall under three categories: biological-based concepts for beneficial use of CO₂; mineralization concepts utilizing CO₂ with industrial wastes; and novel physical and chemical processes for beneficial use of CO₂.

Five of the selected projects are in the third category:

• The University of Delaware will receive $800,000 in DOE funding to research electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide to alcohols;
• The Gas Technology Institute of Des Plaines, Ill., will research high energy systems for transforming CO₂ to valuable products with $799,997 in DOE funding;
• The Gas Technology Institute will receive an additional $799,807 to explore the development of a nano-engineered catalyst supported on ceramic hollow fibers for the utilization of CO₂ in dry reforming to produce syngas;
• TDA Research will develop a new process for CO₂ conversion to fuel with $799,985 from the department; and
• Southern Research will research a low-temperature process utilizing a nano-engineered catalyst for olefin production from coal-derived flue gas with DOE funding of $799,442.

Only one project was selected in each of the first and second categories. With $999,833 in DOE funding, the University of Kentucky Research Foundation will research the potential to convert CO₂ from coal plants to bioplastics, chemicals, and fuels. In the second category, the University of California received $999,999 in DOE funding to create “CO₂ Negative” concrete.

—Abby L. Harvey is a POWER reporter.