The National Energy Technology Laboratory and U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy are requested information regarding new and innovative uses for carbon dioxide captured from fossil fuel power plants. DOE is considering increasing its support for CO2 use research and development, according to the March 29 request for information.
The majority of research regarding uses for captured CO2 has focused on enhanced oil recovery, as opposed to novel uses. “The benefits and challenges of using CO2 in this manner are poorly assessed and quantified and not widely accepted. Further information to gain a better understanding of the opportunities of CO2 use is required,” according to the RFI
The potential issue with using captured CO2 in more out-of-the-box ways, such as polymer processing, algae cultivation, and concrete curing, and as a feedstock for liquid fuel production, is that the amount of CO2 required is much less than the amount of CO2 available.
Another downside is that “many potential processes identified for CO2 use are small-scale and typically release the CO2 to the atmosphere after use, resulting in no net reduction in overall CO2 emissions,” the RFI says. However, if these processes cost less or are more energy efficient than current manufacturing methods, the use of CO2 could be a benefit.
The focus of the RFI is on CO2 utilization approaches that result in commodities or high-value products by chemical or biological conversion. While the RFI does not in itself constitute a funding opportunity, “the information that DOE receives in response to this RFI will support its effort to define the technical scope and size of awards that may be made under a funding opportunity announcement that would be released in fiscal year 2016,” the RFI says
Responses are due by April 25 and should be submitted in PDF format by email.
