Carbon Capture Large-Scale Pilot Projects

Background

Carbon capture and storage captures carbon dioxide before it enters the atmosphere. Typically, carbon capture equipment is placed at or near the source of emissions, like a power plant or industrial facility. This is known as “point-source” capture. After the carbon dioxide (CO2) is captured, it is compressed so that it can be transported more easily by pipelines, truck, rail, or ships. The last step is to safely and permanently store the CO2 in geologic formations deep underground. There are rigorous requirements that projects must meet before they can inject and store the CO2. 

DOE estimates that reaching our nation’s energy goals will require capturing and storing 400 million to 1.8 billion tons of CO2 annually by 2050. New carbon capture technologies are emerging from two decades of research and development. The next step is testing them at larger scales to help attract the capital necessary for their demonstration and deployment. Funding for pilot projects will provide the support needed to test these technologies under relevant conditions in both the power and industrial sectors.  

Program Overview  

The Carbon Capture Large-Scale Pilot Projects Program aims to pilot transformational technologies and prove them out at pilot-to-commercial scale in partnership with industry and communities. These large-scale pilot projects aim to significantly improve the efficiency, effectiveness, costs, emissions reductions, and environmental performance of coal and natural gas use at power and industrial facilities.