FuelCell Energy and Cenovus Energy on Tuesday announced a contract to study the potential use of carbonate fuel cells to capture carbon dioxide from the emissions of a 14-megawatt natural gas-fired turbine. Under the contract, the companies will complete preliminary front-end design and engineering (pre-FEED) for the project. The project will be located at an existing facility near the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada.
Canada-based integrated oil company Cenovus is the lead partner of a joint industry project (JIP) that includes Alberta Innovates-Energy and Environment Solutions, Devon Canada, and Shell Canada. Devon Canada and Shell Canada are also members of Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) alongside Cenovus. “This project is intended to quantify the benefits of the fuel cell carbon capture solution for the separation of CO2 from the flue gas of boilers used to make steam in oil sands production,” according to a FuelCell press release.
“Cost is a critical aspect for Canadian oil sands operators, and our carbon capture solution can efficiently and affordably concentrate CO2, while also producing ultra-clean power that supports economics from the sale of electricity,” FuelCell President CEO Chip Bottone said in the release. “Our solution is delivered in an environmentally friendly manner, and the scalable nature of our carbon capture solution is attractive, as additional capture capability can be incrementally added over time.”
