DOE funds $13.7M for large-scale CO2 conversion projects

In Washington, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) recently announced $13.7 million in federal funding for four projects that will advance large-scale conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into environmentally responsible and economically valuable products. With funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, projects will help develop conversion technologies that feasibly produce crucial fuels, building materials, and other carbon-based products from captured carbon emissions. 

The selected projects will support two areas of focus: (1) engineering-scale testing of electrochemical systems for converting carbon dioxide emissions into value-added products, such as engineering polymer/resin precursors, specialty chemicals, and commodity chemicals; and (2) feasibility studies that examine retrofitting refineries and petrochemical facilities for carbon conversion:

·      Dioxide Materials Inc. (Boca Raton, Florida) plans to scale technology for the production of low-greenhouse gas ethanol and mevalonic acid via a combination of electrolysis and bioprocessing. 

·      Terraforma Carbon LLC (State College, Pennsylvania) aims to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of carbon capture and conversion to methanol by modeling a retrofit of Shell’s Norco refinery in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana using molten salt-based capture technology.

·      Thiozen Inc. (Pasadena, California) plans to explore the use of a hydrogen sulfide reforming technology to produce low-cost and low-emissions methanol.

·      Twelve Benefit Corp. (Berkeley, California) seeks to accelerate the production of low-carbon chemicals and syngas through rapid research, development, and deployment of its CO2 electrolyzers.