U.S. DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory: Carbon Capture R&D Program's Approach to CO2 Abatement

U.S. DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory:

Carbon Capture R&D Program?s Approach to CO₂
Abatement

José D. Figueroa, Shailesh
Vora, and Lynn Brickett

U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology
Laboratory

PO Box 10940, Pittsburgh, PA 15236

Coal-based power generation continues to have the highest
electricity generation forecasted in the United States despite slow electricity
demand, low natural gas prices, and increased coal-fired power plant
retirements.  The DOE Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that by
2035 11% to 22% of coal-fired power plants will retire, yet it will still
provide 38% of the electric generation capacity demand in the United States. 
Globally, coal-based power plants are forecast to remain the largest source of
electricity generation and carbon dioxide emissions to 2035.

Coal-fired power plants in the United States have made significant
progress in reducing pollutant emissions, since the passage of the Clean Air
Act.  Yet the amount of CO₂ produced from the combustion of fossil fuels in the United States
is expected to increase 3.2% from approximately 5.6 to 5.8 billion metric tons from
2012 to 2035, according to EIA, with over 30% of the carbon dioxide produced from
the coal-fired electric power sector.

Carbon capture and storage is one
of many approaches, however it is a critical abatement approach to
significantly reduce domestic and global CO₂ emissions from large
stationary sources, such as power generation plants and industrial facilities. 
However, the energy and capital cost for state-of-the-art carbon capture
systems are prohibitive for any meaningful deployment. In order to address
these issues the Department of Energy?s Carbon Capture Program maintains close
coordination with its stakeholders to partner in the development of a suite of
solutions by efficiently utilizing and leveraging available resources. A
learning-by-doing approach with focused R&D to meet stakeholder
requirements and needs can increase the probability of developing technologies
for a waiting domestic and international market.    

This paper will discuss the latest research achievements performed
by projects within the Department of Energy?s Carbon Capture Program for post-
and pre-combustion applications and discuss how engineering solutions can
support the advancement of carbon capture systems.