NEWS MEDIA 

CONTACT

(202) 586-4940 

DOENews@hq.doe.gov

WASHINGTON – In a landmark accomplishment, the U.S. Department of Energy is 

announcing that a group of carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects supported by 

the Department have safely captured 10 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) 

– the equivalent of removing more than 2 million passenger vehicles from the 

nation’s roads for one year.

This milestone builds on the Obama administration’s goals of providing clean 

energy, supporting American jobs, and reducing emissions of carbon pollution. 

Rapid commercial development and deployment of clean coal technologies, 

particularly CCS, will help position the United States as a leader in the clean energy 

race.

“The U.S. is taking the lead in showing the world CCS can work. We have made the 

largest government investment in carbon capture and storage of any nation, and 

these investments are being matched by private capital,” said Energy Secretary 

Ernest Moniz. “We are showing that CCS is working now, and that it is 

indispensable to the DOE’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and 

tackle climate change.”

CCS is the separation and capture of CO2 from power plant and industrial 

emissions. The captured CO2 is then injected and stored in deep underground 

geologic formations. In a number of CCS projects, the co2 is utilized to enhance oil 

recovery from mature wells.

CCS technologies encourage sustainable economic growth by enabling industry to 

continue operations while emitting fewer greenhouse gases. It also opens the door 

to practical and beneficial options for reusing the captured CO2. For instance, when 

Tweet

Home » In Milestone, Energy Department Projects Safely and Permanently Store 10 Million Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide

In Milestone, Energy Department Projects 

Safely and Permanently Store 10 Million 

Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide

April 22, 2015 - 5:59pm

•

•

In Milestone, Energy Department Projects Safely and Permanently Store 10 Million Metri... Page 1 of 4

http://energy.gov/articles/milestone-energy-department-projects-safely-and-permanently-st... 7/26/2015
CO2 is injected into an oil reservoir in a process called enhanced oil recovery, it can 

help boost crude oil production.

One DOE supported project alone has now captured nearly 2 million metric tons of 

CO2. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. in Port Arthur, Texas, is demonstrating a 

state-of-the-art system to capture carbon emissions from two steam methane 

reformers used to produce hydrogen. Air Products retrofitted its steam methane 

reformers with an advanced system that separates CO2 from the process gas 

stream. The CO2, in compressed form, is then delivered by pipeline to enhanced oil 

recovery projects in eastern Texas.

The projects contributing to the 10 million tons captured milestone are part of DOE’s 

Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (RCSP) Initiative and the Industrial 

Carbon Capture and Storage (ICCS) Major Demonstrations programs.

The RCSP Initiative consists of seven partnerships focused on determining the best 

regional approaches for storing CO2 in geologic formations. The Partnerships 

include more than 400 organizations spanning 43 states and four Canadian 

provinces, and form the core of a nationwide network to identify optimal 

technologies, geologic carbon storage sites, regulatory options and infrastructure 

requirements to ensure the safe storage of CO2 and facilitate the commercial 

deployment of CCS. 

The ICCS program – representing a $1.4 billion investment under the American 

Recovery and Reinvestment Act – is a major step forward in the effort to reduce 

CO2 emissions from industrial plants. The program has helped industry 

demonstrate the CCS technologies that can be readily replicated and commercially 

deployed in industrial facilities.

Editor's note: This page has been updated to better reflect the current status of a 

DOE supported project. 

Tweet

Energy 

Department 

RELATED ARTICLES

In Milestone, Energy Department Projects Safely and Permanently Store 10 Million Metri... Page 2 of 4

http://energy.gov/articles/milestone-energy-department-projects-safely-and-permanently-st... 7/26/2015
Project 

Captures and 

Stores more 

than One 

Million Metric 

Tons of CO2

DOESponsored 

Education 

Center Hosts 

International 

Meeting on 

CCS

Large-Scale Industrial Carbon 

Capture, Storage Plant Begins 

Construction

1000 Independence Ave. SW

Washington DC 20585

202-586-5000

CAREERS & INTERNSHIPS

CONTACT US

In Milestone, Energy Department Projects Safely and Permanently Store 10 Million Metri... Page 3 of 4

http://energy.gov/articles/milestone-energy-department-projects-safely-and-permanently-st... 7/26/2015
ABOUT THIS SITE

Web Policies

Privacy

No Fear Act

Whistleblower Protection

Information Quality

Open Gov

Accessibility

ENERGY DEPARTMENT

Budget & Performance

Directives, Delegations & 

Requirements

FOIA

Inspector General

Privacy Program

Small Business

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

The White House

USA.gov

In Milestone, Energy Department Projects Safely and Permanently Store 10 Million Metri... Page 4 of 4

http://energy.gov/articles/milestone-energy-department-projects-safely-and-permanently-st... 7/26/2015