The technology, developed by CORMETECH, is to be tested at the US National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC) in Alabama. The NCCC testing is considered an important step in scaling new technologies for use in large combined cycle plants.
CORMETECH has received funding from DOE-NETL to develop the technology in a project titled Bench scale test of a polyethyleneimine monolith carbon capture process for natural gas combined cycle point sources (DE-FE0032138).
This approach uses what is described as a ‘monolithic’ amine contactor to capture CO2. The monolith is a honeycomb structure with tiny flow channels for flue gas to pass through. The CO2 within the flue gas adsorbs to the amine (polyethyleneimine) that is contained within the monolith’s internal porous structure. The CO2 is later desorbed using steam for subsequent sequestration or use. The process is similar to the direct air capture process being developed jointly by Global Thermostat and CORMETECH but incorporates modifications that enable it to be applied to combined cycle plants.
NETL has supported the project through its Point Source Carbon Capture Program, which helps develop technologies for carbon capture from power and industrial sectors using a variety of approaches.
NETL is a sponsor of NCCC, a “world-class, neutral test facility focused on accelerating the development and commercialisation of next- generation carbon reduction technologies for fossil-based power plants.” Since its creation by DOE in 2009, the centre, managed and operated by Southern Company, is said to have been “a cornerstone of US innovation in the research and development of cost-effective, technically viable carbon management technologies.”
NCCC says it has completed more than 150 000 hours of testing for carbon capture innovators, leading to significant scale-ups, process enhancements and ‘technological breakthroughs.’ Based on pilot testing and development of more than 75 technologies, the centre estimates it has already reduced the projected cost of carbon capture from fossil- based power generation by more than 40%.
The CORMETECH project was one 12 proposals awarded a total of $45 million in US federal funding in 2021 to advance point-source carbon capture and storage technologies that can capture at least 95% of the CO2 emissions produced by natural gas power generation and industrial facilities. (See https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-invests-45-million-decarbonize-natural-gas-power-and- industrial-sectors-using-carbon).
Other recipients of funding under this award for projects focused on carbon capture applied to natural gas fuelled combined cycle power plants included: Calpine Texas CCUS Holdings, LLC (for study of CCS application at Calpine Deer Park Energy Center); GE Vernova; SRI International; TDA Research; University of Kentucky Research Foundation; and ION Clean Energy.
Natural gas is the most prevalent energy source used for electricity generation in the USA. Of the 491 GW of natural-gas-fired generating capacity in the country, more than half is combined cycle.
