Brady PieperThe U.S. Department of Energy is issuing a Notice of Intent (NOI) to allocate up to $1.3 billion to further climate action and advance carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies.
This initiative, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), seeks to spur investments in transformative projects that are expected to generate good-paying jobs, enhance public health and bolster the nation’s leadership in emissions-reducing technologies.
Endowed through the DOE’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), the NOI will further the department’s Carbon Capture Demonstration Projects Program and the Carbon Capture Large-Scale Pilot Projects Program. The two programs, allocated over $3.4 billion from the BIL, and this NOI will establish concrete national steps towards reducing carbon emissions, facilitating clean air and environmental benefits for communities and expediting the DOE’s mission to capture 1.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually by 2050.
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Through the NOI, the DOE intends to award 11 projects with funding up to $400 million per project to address a variety of carbon capture, utilization and storage initiatives.
With an array of agendas, applicants can secure DOE funding through three main topical areas: Carbon Capture Demonstration, Carbon Capture Large-Scale Pilot Projects and Infrastructure Planning and Design.
The first topical area, Carbon Capture Demonstration, will support commercial-scale projects integrated with carbon dioxide transportation and storage infrastructure. Split into two categories, the DOE will offer funding for up to one coal-fired plant and up to two industrial facilities to advance technical maturity, reduce uncertainty in cost and performance and increase interoperability of carbon capture technologies that can be implemented at additional facilities.
The coal-fired plant to be selected will be eligible for funding up to $400 million, while the two industrial plants can secure up to $350 million per application. Projects awarded under the first topical area will be responsible for a 50% non-federal cost share.
The Carbon Capture Large-Scale Pilot Program, the second topical area, will support large-scale pilot projects that showcase innovative technological advancements in carbon capture, improving capture efficiency, lowering costs and enhancing environmental performance. This topical area will award up to four projects funding up to $135 million each for their respective initiatives; additionally, selected applicants will be responsible for a 30% non-federal cost share.
The third and final topical area, Infrastructure Planning and Design, will award up to four projects with funding up to $30 million each to support the development of networks that can share carbon dioxide transport and storage infrastructure. Responsible for a 50% non-federal cost share, selected applicants will demonstrate connectivity between carbon capture projects and enable widespread adoption of capture and storage technologies by a broad range of emitters.
The expected issuance of the Funding Opportunity Announcement is slated for the fourth quarter of 2024. Interested parties are encouraged to register early, as the registration process can take a minimum of 44 days.
The OCED will host an informational webinar on Oct. 21, providing additional information about the funding’s topical areas, next steps and engagement opportunities. Attendance at the webinar will not affect applicants’ ability to receive funding from the program.
With the implementation of these funding initiatives, the DOE and OCED look to accelerate the commercialization of carbon capture technologies, which are critical to achieving a sustainable energy future and ensuring cleaner air for all communities nationwide. The push for cleaner energy continues as the U.S. positions itself as a leader in innovative solutions combating global warming and empowering a clean, sustainable economy.
Photo by Anne Nygård on Unsplash
