NCCC Plays Pivotal Role for Projects in DOE’s Development of Enabling Technologies FOA for Carbon Capture From Industrial & Electric Generation Sources

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) recently announced $29 million in federal funding for 12 research and development projects. This funding aims to drive innovation in carbon capture and conversion, with projects focused on both greenhouse and non-greenhouse gas emissions.

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Five projects will focus on developing and testing technologies such as engineering and advanced process control approaches to address non-greenhouse gas emissions in the context of carbon capture. Three of these projects will be tested at the National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC).

The DOE funding will concentrate on two carbon management priorities. The first is converting carbon dioxide (CO₂) into environmentally responsible and economically valuable products. The second is developing efficient, cost-effective CO₂ capture technologies for storage or conversion.

National Carbon Capture Center Connections

The NCCC provided initial planning and letters of support for the three technology developers. Once the pending awards complete final negotiations, the NCCC will begin the project onboarding process.

InnoSepra plans to demonstrate a pilot-scale flue gas purification process to remove acids, acid gases, and aerosols responsible for amine degradation and emissions.

RTI International will test an acid wash recovery process aimed at reducing amine emissions across various CO₂ capture technologies, including aqueous amine and water-lean solvents.

University of Kentucky Research Foundation intends to test methods for capturing secondary emissions from aqueous CO₂ capture processes, including volatile compounds.

In addition to the three project teams coming to the NCCC for testing, the NCCC has established relationships with four other groups receiving DOE funding. The NCCC has previously tested technologies from TDA Research Inc. and American Air Liquide Inc. and is planning future tests with TDA Research and Washington University in St. Louis. Auburn University has also collaborated with the NCCC but has not yet tested at the facility. DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), under FECM, will manage the selected projects.

The National Carbon Capture Center – a Trusted Partner

"The additional DOE funding speaks volumes to the transformative work of our scientifically diverse staff, innovative technology developers, and valued sponsors," said John Northington, director of the NCCC. Most of these emerging carbon management technologies have benefited greatly from the NCCC’s role in progressing from laboratory development to real-world testing and commercial deployment.

The NCCC is managed and operated by Southern Company and funded by DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management and multiple sponsors.

"The deployment of carbon capture and storage creates an opportunity to reduce emissions of additional pollutants beyond carbon dioxide," said Brad Crabtree, Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management. He emphasized that these projects, which bring together university and industry expertise, are key to advancing transformational carbon capture technologies.

Meeting a Net-Zero-Emissions Goal

The 12 carbon management R&D projects will help build the foundation for a robust U.S. CO₂ conversion and permanent storage industry. Accelerating these technologies is essential for meeting the U.S. goal of a net-zero-emissions economy by 2050.

"Our staff continues to build on lessons learned through increased knowledge, hands-on experience, and enhanced data from ongoing NCCC testing," said Northington. Working closely with technology developers and sponsors, NCCC staff members serve as advisors and educators in the development process.

About National Carbon Capture Center

The National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC) is recognized worldwide for accelerating the development of carbon management technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The NCCC’s highly specialized team advances emerging technologies for deployment, assisting in scale-up and supporting commercial deployment.