ION will partner with leading local and global firms for CO2 capture test
ION Engineering, a Boulder, Colorado-based company is pleased to announce their partners in the CO2 capture test awarded project funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), including Xcel Energy, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Eltron Research & Development, Evonik Goldschmidt, and WorleyParsons Group. DOE will fund nearly $3M of a $4M project that will demonstrate how ION’s new technology can remove greenhouse gases at costs much lower than today’s state of the art technology. The project includes design, construction and operation of a field test CO2 capture unit to process flue gas from an Xcel Energy coal-fired power station.
“We are excited to continue Xcel Energy’s commitment to the environment and our customers with this innovative project as it will help clear the path for large-scale carbon capture technologies that may provide cleaner air and a more efficient carbon capture process” said Kent Larson, Xcel Energy Vice President and Chief Energy Supply Officer.
Congressman Jared Polis congratulated the team, noting that “This is a critical global challenge that needs an affordable solution. We need to take action to de-carbonize fossil fuel energy production in addition to increasing energy efficiency and expanding use of renewable fuel sources. This is an opportunity for Colorado and the United States to lead with innovation supporting an affordable transition to a cleaner and vibrant economy.”
ION’s highly efficient solvents and improved capture process take advantage of the unique qualities of ionic liquids, a promising class of “green” chemicals that do not evaporate and are stable at high temperatures. Much less energy is required to regenerate the solvents. Instead of continuously replacing water lost as steam in a conventional capture process, ionic liquids are recycled for ongoing use. The process design can also be modified to use less expensive materials and smaller components.
“ION is very pleased to have this opportunity to work with DOE and our project team, which includes some of the world’s leading experts in CO2 capture technology and organizations strongly committed to developing sustainable energy solutions,” noted Buz Brown, ION’s CEO and Chairman. This technology can also be applied for CO2 capture in gas-fired power plants, sour natural gas clean-up, refineries and other industrial emissions sources.
Successful development would enable the U.S. and others to act more quickly to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve and create jobs in the coal and power industries and reduce the cost of transitioning to clean energy.