College of Engineering Researchers Receive DOE Grants to Put Carbon Back Underground

Faculty wins $35 million to expand research into commercial-scale carbon storage across Utah to tackle climate change.

The University of Utah has been awarded $36 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to advance research and implementation of carbon storage technologies in hopes of discovering ways to permanently warehouse greenhouse gas emissions in Utah’s geological formation.

Carbon storage is associated with the process of separating and capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) at power plants and other point sources before it is released into the atmosphere. The goal is to “sequester” the captured gases underground as a method of mitigating climate change effects.

>> In Other News: Carb Updates the Low Carbon Fuel Standard to Increase Access to Cleaner Fuels and Zero-emission Transportation Options

Three researchers, all members of the Carbon Science and Engineering Research group at the U’s Energy & Geoscience Institute (EGI), are leading projects positioning Utah as a national leader for carbon storage innovation. 

• Ting Xiao, a research assistant professor, initially received $10 million for the CarbonSAFE project, led by EGI & the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering. The project examines the potential for a large CO₂ storage hub in the Uinta Basin east of Salt Lake City. An additional $5 million has since been awarded toward further analysis and guidance for the carbon capture workforce.

• Eric Edelman, a postdoctoral researcher, received $11 million to establish another carbon storage hub in central Utah, involving geological studies and drilling to assess the long-term storage potential in the region’s geological formations. An emphasis is also placed on community engagement.

• Nathan Moodie, a research assistant professor, received $10 million to determine the feasibility of Utah’s Basin and Range region for carbon capture. His project also supports the establishment of the first “green” iron plant in the U.S.

“I am proud to have served as these stellar scientists’ Ph.D. advisor and co-PI on these four grants,” said Brian McPherson, director of the Carbon Science and Engineering Research Group and professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “Their research has the potential to create lasting environmental and economic impacts.”

These separate projects will also offer a multitude of employment opportunities in rural parts of Utah and strengthen community engagement and collaboration.