Insights from the Appalachia Regional Deploy Dialogue: Advancing Networked Carbon Management Infrastructure

On August 7, 2024, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE’s) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), in collaboration with the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations and the Loan Programs Office, hosted an Appalachia Regional Deploy Dialogue focused on networked carbon management infrastructure. Held during the 2024 FECM-NETL Carbon Management Research Project Review Meeting, or Carbon Management Week, in Pittsburgh, PA, this dialogue brought together regional stakeholders and industrial and energy companies to explore the vision and requirements for establishing a connected network for carbon capture, removal, transport, and storage. Attendees also provided insights into key barriers and potential solutions for achieving deep decarbonization of the industrial and power sectors in Appalachia. 

Enabling the Development of Networked Infrastructure for Carbon Management

Representatives from DOE opened the regional dialogue by highlighting the Department’s commitment to deploying the carbon management technologies needed to meet the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Achieving this ambitious goal will require accelerating the responsible development and deployment of technology to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from industrial operations and power generation and removing CO₂ directly from the atmosphere. The success of these projects hinges on the simultaneous scale-up of a safe and reliable systems to transport the captured CO₂, both for geologic storage and for its conversion into useful, durable products.

“By prioritizing the integrated development of critical infrastructure—carbon capture, removal, transport, storage, and conversion—we can accelerate the deployment of carbon management technologies and achieve our decarbonization goals,” said Mark Ackiewicz, FECM’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Carbon Management. “A well-designed network can enhance the scalability of these technologies, reduce operational costs, and foster further collaboration among industries.”

Companies looking to develop transport and storage need upstream carbon capture facilities to come online, while companies developing carbon capture projects need downstream transport and storage to be available. Addressing this “chicken or egg” problem requires innovative solutions.  To help address this, DOE is leveraging its extensive experience in carbon management to engage and support a wide range of stakeholders in developing infrastructure for carbon management projects. For example, FECM announced up to $500 million available for projects aimed at expanding CO₂ transport infrastructure to help reduce emissions across the United States. Additionally, FECM announced the selection of nine university and industry-led projects to receive $44.5 million to advance commercial-scale carbon capture, transport, and storage across the country.

“Over the past few years, we’ve seen a significant increase in carbon management investments due to Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and industry partnerships,” noted Michael O’Connor, Portfolio Strategist in the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations. “One ongoing discussion point as it relates to this funding has been on how major emitters can be clustered to build shared CO₂ infrastructure, allowing for the development of networks that strengthen and expand the carbon management industry.”

Throughout  the dialogue, attendees provided insights into current barriers hindering progress toward achieving a networked carbon management infrastructure. They outlined potential strategies to overcome those challenges and considered government actions that could support these efforts. Several shared themes emerged throughout the discussions, including:

- The necessity of scalable policy incentives, such as the 45Q tax credit, which could be tailored and extended   to meet the specific needs of regions over time. 
- The importance of expediting the characterization of geologic formations, particularly those that remain unexplored or uncharacterized in the region.
- The crucial role of community engagement for the success of networked carbon management infrastructure projects, including discussing the benefits and risks of proposed projects. 
- The importance of clear guidance on securing necessary storage permits and understanding timelines associated with each storage site. 
The need to attract a skilled and talented workforce to advance these initiatives.

Background + Stay Tuned for More Information!

This regional dialogue was a part of the broader ‘Deploy Dialogue’ series launched by the Loan Programs Office last year at Deploy23. The dialogue set the scene with insights from national laboratory and program experts, incorporating material from FECM’s new “Appalachia Regional Report: Building a Clean Energy Economy and the Supporting Role of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management,” DOE’s “Industrial Decarbonization Commercial Liftoff Report,” and other related research material.

DOE’s Loan Programs Office will be releasing a meeting summary soon, offering a more detailed overview of the themes addressed throughout the dialogue. 

To keep up to date with information about FECM’s carbon management portfolio and regional dialogue updates, sign up to receive FECM email updates and follow us on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.