CO2 Capture, Utilization and Storage - Program 165

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1 Program Program Overview Policy watchers and power system planners continue to expect that post-combustion carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture will be needed in the future for both existing and new coal-fired plants and for gas-fired systems, in order to meet CO 2 emissions reduction targets being discussed in the United States, by many other governments, and the United Nations. In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued a proposed rule for limiting CO 2 emissions from new fossil-fuel-fired electric utility generating units (EGUs), which include fossil-fuel-fired boilers, integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) units, and stationary combined-cycle turbine units that generate electricity for sale and are larger than 25 megawatts (MW). The EPA also is considering new rules for existing plants under the Clean Air Act section 111d. An associated need for all fossil-fueled electricity generation sources is permanent and environmentally safe storage of the captured CO 2. A recent trend has been to consider utilization of captured CO 2 for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Based on current rules, EOR companies will have to comply with a number of EPA geologic storage requirements, assuming the companies engage in storage activities. More data needs to be gathered to address these requirements. In addition, there has been an increased interest in utilization of CO 2 for other than EOR in locations that may not have access to EOR or geologic storage. Prior evaluations of this concept suggest that the potential is limited to small niche applications, but the concept needs to be evaluated to determine possible viability in limited or larger-scale applications. For pulverized coal (PC) plants to provide competitively-priced electricity while addressing these CO 2 reduction concerns, they need capture processes with much lower parasitic plant loads and costs than systems available today. All power generation sources of CO 2 also will need the ability to store large quantities of CO 2 safely and permanently in underground formations. Although establishing the necessary legal and regulatory framework is not within the purview of EPRI, providing sound technical evidence that storage can be done in a safe and permanent fashion can support the development by others of workable regulations and enabling laws. EPRI s CO 2 Capture, Utilization and Storage program (Program 165) provides information about the expected cost, availability, performance, and technical challenges of a range of flue gas CO 2 capture processes. The program seeks and encourages the development of breakthrough post-combustion CO 2 capture technologies with substantially lower energy and cost penalties. In addition, the program identifies purity requirements for the CO 2 stream discharged by the capture process to ensure compatibility with the compression, transport, and injection processes, and conducts the R&D needed to demonstrate the permanence, safety, and environmental acceptability of long-term CO 2 storage from any power plant source. Also, the program looks at the options for CO 2 utilization including EOR and non-eor options. The research in P165 supports EPRI s Near-Zero Emissions: Reduce Power and Cost Impacts of CO 2 Capture Systems and Near-Zero Emissions: Demonstrate Permanence and Safety of Geologic CO 2 Storage. Project is helping to develop CO 2 capture processes with lower cost and energy penalties. Projects and are focused on methods to demonstrate the permanence and safety of CO 2 storage, whether in saline reservoirs or EOR. 1

2 2 Electric Power Research Institute Portfolio 2014 Research Value Substantial barriers must be overcome, and technical and societal uncertainties must be resolved, before carbon capture and storage (CCS) can be widely deployed, but the time required for developing such processes can take up to 15 years. Proposed pulverized coal (PC) plants already have been denied permits in the absence of firm plans to capture and store their CO 2 emissions. This program meets the industry s most urgent near-term needs information for: Credible asset planning through early understanding of the options, development timelines, costs, technical uncertainties, and regulatory, environmental, and related issues; Increased confidence that acceptable capture technologies, storage, and utilization options will be available when needed; and Use in public dialogue on the practical extent and timing of CO 2 reduction from U.S. power plants, based on neutral, third-party data and assessments from EPRI. Longer-term, the technology development aspects of this program will enable the power sector to continue to provide affordable electricity using fossil-fuel-fired generating assets in a low-carbon world. Approach This program pursues parallel, complementary activities in post-combustion capture, utilization, and storage of CO 2 from any fossil-fueled electricity generation source. For post-combustion capture, EPRI will continue to seek potential breakthrough technologies that offer the promise of significant cost and energy demand reductions over today s leading candidates. EPRI then will conduct technical and economic assessments of these processes, followed by development and demonstration of the most promising ones, in order to accelerate the availability of commercially mature, cost-acceptable carbon capture methods. Currently, EPRI is engaged in four such activities. For CO 2 storage, EPRI will conduct or participate in multiple large, multiyear CO 2 geologic storage projects designed to provide the public and regulators with the information and tools needed to analyze and assess commercial-scale CO 2 storage. Topical studies (e.g., improved monitoring of injected CO 2 ) will address other underlying geochemical processes that affect formation and well integrity not tested in the demonstrations. For CO 2 utilization, EPRI will continue to summarize the state-of-the-art and seek to aid in the development of promising concepts. Members receive this information through four projects: "CO 2 Capture, Utilization and Storage Technology Watch highlights developments and trends in carbon capture, transport, utilization, and storage through periodic updates on worldwide post-combustion CO 2 capture and storage research. Information is obtained through participation in various international forums, workshops, and conferences, and through discussions with technology developers and vendors. Post-Combustion CO 2 Capture Development and Demonstration conducts assessments of add-on CO 2 capture or fixation systems for new and retrofit combustion-based fossil power plants. Information on these processes continues to be collected in a database of CO 2 capture processes, with in-depth assessments where appropriate. Increasingly, EPRI s R&D is focusing on collaborations with process developers across the spectrum of technologies to accelerate the development of their concepts from the lab into realistic demonstrations. This work is closely coordinated with both the Technology Innovation strategic program on CCS, which looks at capture technologies that are in the very early stages of development, as well as with the Fossil Fleet for Tomorrow program, which is conducting studies of how to optimally integrate commercial and near-commercial capture technologies into state-of-the-art power plants. Program 165 currently focuses on the crucial steps in the development of technology, where processes are first exposed to real-world conditions. This project also co-sponsors the work at the U.S. Department of Energy s (DOE) National Carbon Capture Center, and tests results from that Center are reported in Program 165 member meetings. In the future, the program will transition to also supporting the early development level concepts where appropriate.

3 3 Electric Power Research Institute Portfolio 2014 Assessments of CO 2 Storage Challenges summarizes experiences in large-scale storage demonstrations; seeks optimum methods and economics for evaluating potential geologic storage formations; quantifies potential environmental risks, e.g., from migration of injected CO 2 into underground sources of drinking water (USDW); summarizes the role that CO 2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR) might play in facilitating early deployment of CCS, and technical issues that industry might face when converting a CO 2 EOR project to CO 2 storage only; and summarizes the regulatory requirements associated with conducting CO 2 storage. CO 2 Utilization summarizes the development of non-eor CO 2 utilization concepts. Work in this area will include a summary of potential concepts, applicability, cost, and market potential. Where useful, EPRI will support the further development of such concepts identified in the earlier utilization study. Accomplishments EPRI provides key technical information on emerging CO 2 capture processes (including post-combustion processes), as well as the feasibility and issues associated with CO 2 transport and geo-storage. Recent R&D highlights include: Managing and completing the testing and economics of the chilled ammonia process on the pilot-scale (1.7 MWe) and the 20-MWe Product Validation Facility program conducted with EPRI support by American Electric Power (AEP) and Alstom at AEP s Mountaineer station. Managing and completing testing of the ongoing solvent-based pilot (25 MWe) being conducted with EPRI support by Southern Company (SC) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) at Alabama Power s Plant Barry and managing the injection of the CO 2 produced into a saline reservoir under the Southeast Regional Carbon Sequestration (SECARB) project. Identifying and evaluating the technical feasibility of more than 100 novel CO 2 /flue gas separation concepts or processes under development, narrowing the promising processes to fewer than 20; updating earlier assessments to account for recent developments and adding new processes as identified; and providing capsule information and assessments to program members in a web-based database. Supporting developers considered most promising by EPRI, giving EPRI members a window into early development status and potential of a wide range of possible CO 2 capture processes solvent, sorbent, and membrane Providing sorbent process developers with feedback on their test approaches, leading to more technically solid progress towards identification of processing sorbents and sorbent-handling systems. Conducting a real-world test of the potential for CO 2 to alter groundwater chemistry if it migrates from its injection formation into an underground source of drinking water (USDW). Identifying and assessing compression options for CCS applications, including new, less energy-intensive compressor designs. Informing members about CCS developments worldwide through participation in several international networks of specialists. Documenting the processes of finding, validating, and permitting of injection sites through a management role in two DOE Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships and a supporting role in a third partnership. Current Year Activities Program R&D for 2014 will mainly focus on continuing research efforts under way and selectively adding new work. For CO 2 capture, this means aggressively seeking new capture process ideas from universities and individual developers; maintaining our database of CO 2 capture technologies; and actively supporting selected CO 2 separation process developers with system modeling and power plant insights as they advance their technologies under DOE or state funding. Key efforts include: Participation in worldwide networks and conferences to discover and monitor new technologies and scientific concepts with the promise of significant reductions in the cost and energy requirements for CO 2 capture, environmental safety and permanence of geostorage, and identification of promising CO 2 utilization concepts. Technical and economic assessments of new or emerging post-combustion CO 2 capture processes, including select process simulations.

4 4 Electric Power Research Institute Portfolio 2014 Progress reports on pilot-scale CO 2 capture testing of processes with EPRI involvement. Performance reports on the post-combustion CO 2 capture processes being tested at the National Carbon Capture Center (expected to include solvent, sorbent, and membrane processes, possibly including technologies from abroad and new entries by major U.S. OEMs to the power industry). Summary of methods to most efficiently manage CO 2 injection to maximize stored CO 2 in the minimum volume Guidance document for use of EOR as a storage process Follow-on R&D identified in earlier studies Estimated 2014 Program Funding $2.5M Program Manager Richard Rhudy, , rrhudy@epri.com Summary of Projects Project Number Project Title P CO2 Capture, Utilization, and Storage Technology Watch P Post-Combustion CO2 Capture Development P CO2 Storage Challenges P CO2 Utilization P CO2 Capture, Utilization, and Storage Technology Watch (072085) Carbon capture use and storage (CCUS) RD&D to find economically and environmentally acceptable solutions is expensive, with researchers worldwide seeking solutions. To maximize the value of their RD&D investment, avoid unnecessary duplication, and benefit from the world s best expertise, members need access to this research. EPRI will continue to provide a link to the worldwide CCUS RD&D community through its participation in the International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas (IEAGHG) Program and the Massachusetts s Institute of Technology (MIT) Carbon Sequestration Initiative, as well as staff attendance at numerous conferences and workshops. EPRI provides updates at the advisory meetings and, as appropriate, webcasts that summarize the latest findings and R&D directions on post-combustion CCUS reported at these venues. Reports issued by the IEAGHG will be maintained on the P165 cockpit at for members to download. P Post-Combustion CO2 Capture Development (062057) First-generation post-combustion CO 2 capture technologies are estimated to impose a severe energy penalty on the plant potentially, more than 30% of a coal-fired plant s output. In addition, these processes are very large and complex, resulting in high capital costs and large space requirements. Therefore, efforts must continue to find and demonstrate processes that could substantially lower costs and energy penalties. In this project, EPRI will continue to participate in the development of post-combustion processes that hold the promise of significantly reduced energy/cost penalties, including:

5 5 Electric Power Research Institute Portfolio 2014 Membranes incorporated into a novel system design Solid sorbents (organic carbon-based, amine-impregnated, and, potentially others found during the ongoing search), along with the demonstration of a modern material-handling systems for the large sorbent volumes that will be required for CO 2 capture Advanced solvents, combined with process improvements, to reduce energy requirements Participation at DOE's National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC), operated by the Southern Company at Alabama Power s Plant Gaston While most reports will be provided through the DOE because these projects are mainly government funded, early feedback will be provided to Program 165 members, and annual summaries of all the work will be prepared. P CO2 Storage Challenges (052326) Although as much as 80% of the cost of CCS is attributable to the capture process, most of the uncertainties surround the means of permanently storing CO 2. The industry and public need information about the ability to safely inject and store CO 2 in underground formations over very long periods with no undesirable side effects. The industry also needs to understand the socio-political issues associated with CO 2 storage, such as legal or regulatory procedures for dealing with long-term liability for injected CO 2 ; effective methods of communicating the measures being taken by the industry to mitigate risks; and successful approaches to permitting underground storage. Of the wide range of R&D needed to resolve these issues, EPRI is focusing on those that are critical to the industry, yet are not being covered adequately by others, and of a scope and content such that EPRI can make an impact directly or by participation in a consortium. These efforts are demonstrating the ability to monitor the fate and location of injected CO 2 in underground formations, to ensure its permanence in the target storage formation and absence of intrusion into potable groundwater reservoirs; advancing the understanding of the potential impact of any CO 2 leaks into such drinking water sources; and proving ways to identify and mitigate such leaks if they occur. Research also will seek lower-cost methods to assess reservoirs and develop costs for the full transport, storage, and monitoring set of activities for different source-sink locations and geologic formation properties. P CO2 Utilization (072086) Early adoption of CO 2 capture, before regulations are required, may be more cost-effective if the CO 2 can be used for EOR. However, incorporating storage into an EOR project may trigger a number of regulatory requirements that may include equipment changes, increased monitoring, and long-term liability. EPRI will develop a guideline to help outline the steps that need to be considered if EOR with storage is to be successful. For locations without nearby geologic storage options, alternate CO 2 utilization or storage options should be considered, While prior reviews of non-eor utilization have indicated little likelihood of developing a concept that would be widely applicable, EPRI took another look at this area in If attractive options are identified, a project would be undertaken to aid in the development of the most promising concepts.

6 6 Electric Power Research Institute Portfolio 2014 Supplemental Projects Emerging Issues in CO2 Capture and Storage (073434) Background, Objectives, and New Learning The recent past has shown that the landscape regarding CO 2 Capture and Storage (CCS) can change quickly. Technical breakthroughs (e.g., the concept of utilization in connection with enhanced oil recovery (EOR) ), new regulations, political elections, the economy, and other events could have a sudden and significant impact on the relative importance of topics related to CO 2 capture and storage. This supplemental project is designed to provide a rapid response to any new topics that were not anticipated at the time that the 2013 CO 2 Capture and Storage portfolio was created. The specific topic(s) to be investigated will be decided in consultation with its funders when the project begins in The objective of this research will be to provide technical insights into topics of interest related to the development of CO 2 capture and storage that could lower the cost and/or reduce the technical risk of implementing CCS. Project Approach and Summary After the second 2013 CO 2 Capture and Storage advisors meeting is held, EPRI's technical staff will hold a webcast with the funders of this project and propose several potential topics for investigation. In addition to emerging issues, some of the topics could include those that were in the proposed scope of the base program but were not selected by the advisors for execution due to funding constraints. The funders of this supplemental project will also be asked to send in their ideas for proposed topics before the webcast. The purpose of the webcast will be to explain each of the potential topics and the proposed approaches to studying them. After the webcast, each funder will be asked to rank the proposed ideas, and the one receiving the highest ranking will be selected for investigation. If sufficient funds are available, the next highest ranked project or projects will also be selected. A technical report on each selected topic will be issued by no later than March Benefits By waiting until the first quarter of 2013 to define the exact scope of work, EPRI and the funders of this project will be able to have research results more quickly than waiting to put the topics in the 2014 R&D portfolio. Depending on the topic or topics selected for study, the benefits of this research could include: breakthrough CO 2 capture processes and/or process improvements, lower-cost monitoring for storage, new storage mitigation concepts, or a quick response to a new government solicitation on a topic of interest to the members.

7 7 Electric Power Research Institute Portfolio 2014 Study of the Relationship of CO2 Storage Formations (073435) Background, Objectives, and New Learning The recent increase in the production of shale gas brings into question whether CO 2 storage sites and shale gas sites may coexist, or if one may interfere with the use of the other. No study has focused on developing knowledge of the geologic relationship between locations where they might be co-located. This project would collect the available geographic information system (GIS) and geologic information to better understand the geologic relationship between the locations that are suitable for CO 2 storage and natural gas recovery from shale. Project Approach and Summary The purpose of this supplemental project is to develop a comprehensive summary of locations in the US that can be used for shale gas recovery and the information on the suitability of CO 2 storage in those same locations. The information will be used to identify locations where both can be done and locations where they are mutually exclusive. Benefits The results of this project will improve the fundamental understanding of CO 2 storage and its relationship with shale gas recovery. It will improve the industry's ability to develop effective strategies for deploying carbon capture and storage. The potential public benefit of this R&D is better understanding of possible CO 2 storage options that could result in lower costs and improved methods and better sites for underground storage, making carbon capture and storage (CCS) a more viable technology for continuing to use lower-cost fossil fuels and reducing emissions.