Washington, DC - An overview of research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) efforts to supply cost-effective, advanced carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies for coal-based power systems is the focus of a new roadmap published by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Link to the 2010 CCS Roadmap

Prepared by the Office of Fossil Energy’s (FE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), the latest DOE/NETL Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage RD&D Roadmap outlines the program’s efforts to develop advanced CCS technology. CCS is considered by many experts as an important component in a portfolio strategy - along with greater energy efficiency and use of renewable and nuclear energy - to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate potential climate change.

NETL implements FE’s Clean Coal Research Program, which focuses on the integrated development of CCS technologies to affordably and efficiently sequester CO2 from coal-based power plants. The program’s mission is to develop technologies that offer superior environmental improvement while ensuring that plentiful coal, a secure and affordable domestic energy resource, remains available to power a sustainable economy.

Several technologies are being pursued to mitigate risks inherent to RD&D efforts. As outlined in the roadmap, the Clean Coal Research Program integrates advances and lessons learned from fundamental research, technology development, and large-scale demonstration. DOE envisions having an array of advanced CCS technologies ready by 2020 for large-scale demonstration that will provide safe, cost-effective carbon management to meet national goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The success of DOE research and related program activities will enable CCS technologies to overcome a multitude of economic, social, and technical challenges including--

  • Successful integration of CO2 capture, compression, transport, and storage technologies with power generation systems.
  • Effective CO2 monitoring and verification.
  • Permanence of underground CO2 storage.
  • Public acceptance.

Through these advances, the United States will continue to have access to safe, reliable, and affordable energy from fossil fuels.

 

<p>FECommunications@hq.doe.gov</p><p>&nbsp;</p>