U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

NETL’S CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER

ANNUAL INDEX

FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2020

October 2019 – September 2020
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

NETL’S CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER

ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

This Annual Index is a compilation of the National Energy Technology Laboratory’s (NETL) monthly Carbon Storage Newsletters (CSN) published from October 2019 to September 2020. The CSN is produced by NETL to 

provide information on activities and publications related to carbon storage. It covers domestic, international, 

public sector, and private sector news. Outdated information (e.g., conference dates, paper submittals, etc.) and 

duplicative stories have been removed. 

Note that all links were active at the time of publication.

A comprehensive archive of the CSN is available on the NETL website.

CONTENTS

DOE/NETL HIGHLIGHTS .....................................................................................................3

PROJECT and BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS .........................................................................5

LEGISLATION and POLICY................................................................................................11

EMISSIONS TRADING ......................................................................................................14

SCIENCE NEWS ..............................................................................................................17

PUBLICATIONS................................................................................................................21

ANNOUNCEMENTS..........................................................................................................47
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 DOE/NETL HIGHLIGHTS

DOE/NETL HIGHLIGHTS

OCTOBER 2019

DOE Announces Funding for CCUS Projects.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) announced 

federal funding for cost-shared research and development (R&D) projects 

under three Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs). The projects will 

build upon DOE’s large-scale carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) 

pilot and demonstration projects to test, mature, and prove CCUS technologies 

at commercial scale. Two of the FOAs were announced earlier this fiscal year 

(FY); the new FOA, DE-FOA-0001999 “Carbon Storage Assurance Facility 

Enterprise (CarbonSAFE),” is seeking R&D projects that accelerate wide-scale 

deployment of CCUS through assessing and verifying safe and cost-effective 

anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) commercial-scale storage sites and 

carbon capture and/or purification technologies (responses are due by January 

15, 2020). DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) will manage 

the projects. From energy.gov on September 13, 2019.

NOVEMBER 2019

DOE Announces Funding to Collaborate Internationally and Accelerate 

CCUS.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) announced 

federal funding for national laboratories to collaborate with international 

partners to accelerate and mature carbon capture, utilization, and storage 

(CCUS) projects. The collaboration will be on seven of the 12 projects that 

were selected as part of the Accelerating Carbon Capture and Storage 

Technologies (ACT) Initiative. The ACT Initiative is a consortium of 10 European 

countries (France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Spain, 

Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom) and the United States. From energy.

gov on November 1, 2019.

DOE Ranked Global Leader in CCS Research.

DOE was described as a global leader in carbon capture and storage (CCS) 

research in a report issued by the peer-reviewed journal Science of the Total 

Environment. DOE ranked first in number of publications and “h-index,” which 

measures the productivity and citation impact of a scientist. Notable advances 

include the development of the Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships 

(RCSPs), which has helped DOE characterize the carbon storage resource 

potential throughout the United States, verifying the major resources available 

to store carbon dioxide (CO2). Through the work of the RCSPs, six large-scale 

projects have cumulatively injected more than 10 million tons of CO2. In 

addition, DOE has prepared a series of carbon storage Best Practice Manuals

that disseminate lessons learned from the projects to the public. Click here 

for more information on DOE’s carbon storage research. From energy.gov on 

October 15, 2019.

DECEMBER 2019

DOE Announces Funding to Develop CCS Technology.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Research Projects 

Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) announced funding to develop carbon capture 

and storage (CCS) technologies that enable power generators to respond 

to grid conditions in a high variable renewable energy (VRE) penetration 

environment. The FLExible Carbon Capture and Storage (FLECCS) Program, 

which seeks to develop technologies capable of addressing difficulties 

in decarbonization of electricity systems and focuses specifically on 

complications in CCS design, operations, and commercialization, will have 

two phases. Phase I will focus on designing and optimizing CCS processes 

that enable flexibility on a high-VRE grid. Phase II will focus on building 

components, unit operations, and small prototype systems to reduce the 

technical risks and costs associated with CCS systems. From energy.gov on 

November 14, 2019.

JANUARY 2020

NETL Develops Flexible CCUS Analysis Tools and Resources.

National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) researchers developed a 

first-of-its-kind suite of tools that enables better decision-making regarding 

the economic challenges of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). 

The publicly available tools and resources can evaluate CCUS costs during 

each step in the value chain. NETL researchers are also developing technoeconomic models for offshore carbon dioxide (CO2) saline storage, onshore 

CO2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR), and offshore CO2 EOR. The flexibility and 

adaptability of NETL’s CCUS tools and resources are critical for addressing 

challenges and acclimating to the changing factors that influence CCUS 

implementation. More information is available on NETL’s Energy Analysis 

page. NETL’s work supports the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) mission to 

advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States. From 

NETL Press Release on December 19, 2019.

FEBRUARY 2020

NETL Project Validates CO2 Storage.

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and research partners 

pioneered technology with the potential to reduce industrial carbon emissions. 

The Plains CO2 Reduction (PCOR) Partnership, one of the U.S. Department of 

Energy’s (DOE) seven Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnerships (RCSPs), 

completed work across the Great Plains and into portions of Canada that 

demonstrates the ability to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and 

enhance the efficiency of oil production. Supported by NETL, RCSP activities 

have included assessments of geologic and terrestrial storage potential in each 

region, followed by small-scale validation projects and six large-scale (greater 

than 1 million metric tons) geologic storage projects. From NETL News Release

on January 10, 2020.

MARCH 2020

NETL Celebrates 2019 Achievements.

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) welcomed congressional 

guests and university partners to the Science and Technology (S&T) 

Accomplishments Session, celebrating more than 30 notable 2019 S&T 

accomplishments that focused on key research priorities that promote safe, 

reliable, and affordable energy nationwide. The interactive poster session, held 

at NETL’s Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA) site, featured a broad range of NETL 

researchers sharing work that showcased NETL’s facilities and core science 

and engineering capabilities. From NETL Press Release on February 20, 2020.

FY 2021 Congressional Budget Request Released.

The President’s FY 2021 Congressional Budget Request seeks $930.7 

million to fund the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy 

(FE). The Budget Request includes funding for the Fossil Energy Research 

and Development (R&D) Program, which includes R&D programs in carbon 

capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). The FY 2021 Budget Request focuses 

on early-stage R&D and reflects an increased reliance on the private sector 

to fund later-stage research, development, and commercialization of energy 

technologies. From energy.gov on February 11, 2020.

APRIL 2020

NETL’s Decarbonization Work Highlighted at Meeting.

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Director, Brian Anderson, 

shared information on NETL’s decarbonization work while speaking at a 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Energy Initiative meeting. NETL’s 

advancements in cost-effective implementation of carbon capture, utilization, 

and storage (CCUS) technologies were highlighted, as was NETL’s Carbon 

Storage Program. Video of the Director’s presentation is available online. From 

NETL News Release. March 2020.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 DOE/NETL HIGHLIGHTS

MAY 2020

DOE Announces Funding for CCUS Projects.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) announced 

funding for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects. The 

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), titled “Engineering-Scale Testing 

from Coal- and Natural-Gas-Based Flue Gas and Initial Engineering Design 

for Industrial Sources,” will support cost-shared research and development 

(R&D) projects that capture and store carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from 

industrial sources. Responses are due by June 5, 2020. In addition, DOE/

FE also announced the selection of five projects under the “Carbon Storage 

Assurance Facility Enterprise (CarbonSAFE): Site Characterization and CO2

Capture Assessment” FOA. The projects selected under this FOA will (1) assess 

and verify safe and cost-effective commercial-scale geologic storage sites for 

anthropogenic CO2 emissions, and (2) assess the technical and economic 

viability of carbon capture or purification technologies for sources that will 

supply CO2 to the storage sites. From energy.gov. April 2020.

Document Highlights DOE’s CCS R&D.

A document released by DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory 

(NETL) highlights 20 years of DOE/NETL carbon capture and storage (CCS) 

R&D. The document, titled “Safe Geologic Storage of Captured Carbon 

Dioxide: Two Decades of DOE’s Carbon Storage R&D Program in Review,” 

details the role played by DOE’s Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership 

(RCSPs) Initiative, as well as the CarbonSAFE Initiative. An excerpt from the 

Executive Summary can be found in the Publications section of this newsletter. 

From energy.gov. April 2020. 

JUNE 2020

NETL Software Helps Estimate CO2 Storage Potential.

A new iteration of a National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) software 

application enables researchers to more accurately estimate carbon 

dioxide (CO2) storage potential. The CO2-SCREEN (Storage prospeCtive 

Resource Estimation Excel aNalysis) tool applies methods and equations 

for estimating prospective CO2 storage resources in residual oil zones 

(ROZs), which can be used for large-scale carbon capture, utilization, and 

storage (CCUS) projects. ROZs have the potential to boost economic activity 

through energy production while also storing CO2. From NETL Press Release. 

May 2020.

JULY 2020

NETL-Led NRAP Expanding Toolset, Collaborations.

Led by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), the National Risk 

Assessment Partnership (NRAP) has worked to accelerate the commercial 

deployment of large-scale carbon storage for the past 10 years. Now into 

Phase II, NRAP is expanding its award-winning toolset and creating new 

collaborations to continue improving the ability to address risk management for 

carbon storage sites. NRAP researchers are engaging with new partnerships, 

such as the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Regional Initiatives, industry, 

state and federal regulators, and academia. Technical objectives and capability 

developments continue to be realized in NRAP’s Phase II efforts, which began 

in 2017 and are expected to be completed in 2022. From NETL News Release. 

May 2020.

AUGUST 2020

DOE Invests in Coal FIRST Initiative.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced federal funding to support 

the Coal FIRST (Flexible, Innovative, Resilient, Small, Transformative) 

Initiative. Seven projects will receive funding under the Funding Opportunity 

Announcement (FOA), “Critical Components for Coal FIRST Power Plants of 

the Future,” for cost-shared research and development. In addition, DOE is 

releasing a new FOA, “Design Development and System Integration Design 

Studies for Coal FIRST Concepts,” in which projects must incorporate carbon 

capture and storage (CCS) or carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) 

technologies. From energy.gov. July 2020.

DOE Announces Funding for FLECCS Program.

DOE announced funding for 12 projects under Phase I of the Advanced 

Research Projects Agency-Energy’s (ARPA-E) FLExible Carbon Capture and 

Storage (FLECCS) Program. FLECCS Phase I project teams will design, model, 

and optimize CCS processes that enable flexibility on a high-variable renewable 

energy grid. At the conclusion of Phase I, teams will be downselected to Phase 

II to receive additional funding to further develop their technologies. The list of 

FLECCS projects is available online. From energy.gov. July 2020.

SEPTEMBER 2020

DOE/NETL 2020 Virtual Integrated Project Review Meeting Underway.

A series of free virtual sessions organized by the U.S. Department of Energy 

(DOE) and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) commenced 

with a three-day conference on carbon capture, utilization, and storage 

(CCUS) on August 17, 2020. Over a 12-week period, the 2020 Virtual 

Integrated Project Review Meeting will feature projects from several DOE 

Office of Fossil Energy (FE) portfolios, including Carbon Capture, Carbon 

Storage, and Carbon Utilization. Sessions focus on how DOE/FE-sponsored 

research and development (R&D) activities are advancing transformative 

science and technologies to support efficient and environmentally sound 

use of fossil fuels. A comprehensive schedule of the integrated virtual 

meeting, which will run through November 2020, is available online. 

From NETL News Release. August 2020. 

DOE Offers Prize to Design Subsurface Visualization Tool.

DOE/FE will award up to $1.5 million to winning innovators in a prize challenge to 

support their SMART (Science-informed Machine Learning to Accelerate RealTime Decisions in the Subsurface) Initiative. The SMART Visualization Platform 

(VP) Challenge prize competition seeks competitors with software development 

expertise to create a new visualization platform that will assist in making 

subsurface insights accessible to a wider range of users and stakeholders. 

SMART leverages the expertise of seven national laboratories, as well as industry 

partners, universities, unconventional field laboratories, and carbon storage 

regional initiatives, to realize breakthroughs in understanding the subsurface 

environment through machine learning. Registration information can found on 

the SMART VP Challenge website. The registration deadline is January 22, 2021. 

From NETL News Release. September 2020.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PROJECT and BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

PROJECT and BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

OCTOBER 2019

European Companies Sign MOU on CCS.

Equinor signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with seven European 

companies to develop value chains in CCS. In cooperation with its partners in 

the Northern Light project, which includes the transport, reception, and storage 

of CO2 in a reservoir in the northern part of the North Sea, Equinor is studying 

the possibilities for developing CO2 storage on the Norwegian continental shelf. 

Under the MOU, the companies will evaluate solutions for CO2 delivery and 

transport, develop a timeline for possible final investment decisions and start 

of operations, and cooperate on the CCS dialogue with national authorities and 

the EU. From Equinor on September 5, 2019.

Drilling Operations for CCS Project Begin.

Easternwell commenced drilling operations for CO2CRC’s Otway Stage 

3 project in southwestern Victoria, Australia. The Otway research facility

demonstrates the geologic storage of CO2; the Stage 3 project aims to 

demonstrate the implementation of solutions for monitoring CO2, providing 

alternative monitoring techniques and enabling faster monitoring. From 

Easternwell News on September 20, 2019.

Memorandum of Cooperation Explores CO2 Reuse.

Officials from Australia and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to 

explore the potential use of CO2 to manufacture high-value products. The 

Minister for Resources and Northern Australia and the Japanese Minister for 

Economy, Trade, and Industry signed the memorandum to spur research into 

developing technologies that can capture, store, and utilize CO2 by turning it 

into an ingredient for the manufacture of products such as carbon fiber, which 

has the potential for use in the construction and agricultural sectors. From 

Manufacturers’ Monthly on September 30, 2019.

CO2 Emissions Reduction Target Revised.

American Electric Power (AEP) revised its 2030 emissions reduction target 

to a 70% reduction from 2000 levels; AEP’s previous target was a 60% 

reduction from 2000 levels by 2030. According to AEP, they will achieve future 

CO2 emissions reductions through investments in renewable generation and 

transmission and distribution technologies to enhance efficiency, as well as 

expanded demand response and energy efficiency programs. Since 2000, AEP 

has reduced its CO2 emissions by 59%. From AEP News Release on September 

10, 2019.

OCGI and CEM CCUS Initiative Members Commit to CCUS.

Members of the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) and the Clean Energy 

Ministerial (CEM) CCUS Initiative released joint statements reaffirming their 

support for a worldwide CCUS industry. OGCI member companies and CEM 

CCUS Initiative countries intend to explore opportunities to support the 

commercial development of CCUS through sustained dialogue on policy and 

regulatory frameworks. The joint declaration builds upon OGCI’s “Kickstarter” 

initiative, which is designed to unlock large-scale commercial investment in 

CCUS by enabling multiple low-carbon industrial hubs. From Carbon Capture 

Journal on September 23, 2019.

NOVEMBER 2019

Qatar to Build CCS Plant.

Qatar officials announced the commissioning of a CCS facility to be located 

in Ras Laffan, Qatar, with a planned capacity of 2.1 million tons of CO2 per 

year. According to officials, Qatar also plans to use CO2 for EOR operations. 

From Oil Price on October 8, 2019.

Companies Sign MOU to Advance CCS.

Organizations from Japan and Saskatchewan agreed to collaborate on 

accelerating the use and understanding of CCS/CCUS. The Memorandum of 

Understanding (MOU) between Japan CCS Co., Ltd. (based in Tokyo, Japan) 

and the International CCS Knowledge Centre (based in Regina, Saskatchewan, 

Canada) represents a path forward to collaborate in the development, 

demonstration, and deployment of CCS/CCUS. The companies will exchange 

information and knowledge of CCS/CCUS acquired through the conduct of 

their respective projects (the Tomakomai CCS Demonstration Project and 

SaskPower’s Boundary Dam 3 CCS Facility). From International CCS Knowledge 

Centre Media Release on October 8, 2019. 

Agreement Reached for Carbon Capture/Biomass-to-Fuels Project. 

Velocys, Inc., and Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, LLC (OLCV) signed an agreement 

to capture CO2 from a planned biomass-to-fuels project in Natchez, Mississippi 

(USA) and store it underground. As part of the agreement, OLCV will transport 

and store the CO2 captured from the planned Bayou Fuels facility (once it is 

completed), enabling the production of transportation fuels that have a netnegative carbon intensity. The Bayou Fuels project is expected to convert 

woody biomass into transportation fuels using Velocys’ Fischer-Tropsch 

process. From Velocys News on October 10, 2019. 

MITEI, Founding Members Renew Research Collaboration.

Energy company Eni renewed its collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute 

of Technology (MIT) by extending its tenure as a founding member of the MIT 

Energy Initiative (MITEI). Eni will also continue its membership in MITEI’s LowCarbon Energy Center for CCUS. The collaboration, which has been extended 

through 2023, began in 2008. In addition, ExxonMobil renewed its status as a 

founding member of MITEI for another five years. From Carbon Capture Journal 

on October 20, 2019.

Aker Solutions Unveils Low-Carbon Strategy.

Aker Solutions unveiled an updated strategy focused on low-carbon and 

renewable energy. The “20/25/30 strategy” sets the path for Aker Solutions to 

derive 20% of its revenue from renewable energy and 25% from low-carbon 

solutions by 2030. The low-carbon segment of the strategy is a portfolio of 

existing Aker Solutions offerings, which includes CCUS. From Aker Solutions 

News Release on October 23, 2019.

DECEMBER 2019

Joint-Development Agreement May Lead to CO2 Storage.

ExxonMobil and FuelCell Energy signed a joint-development agreement (JDA) 

for the purpose of capturing CO2 from industrial sources. FuelCell Energy’s 

proprietary technology uses carbonate fuel cells to efficiently capture and 

concentrate CO2 streams from large, industrial sources. Combustion exhaust 

is directed to the fuel cell, which produces power while capturing and 

concentrating CO2 for storage. The modular design enables the technology 

to be deployed at a wide range of locations. From Carbon Capture Journal on 

November 7, 2019.

CCS Facility Captures 3 Million Metric Tons of CO2.

According to company officials, SaskPower’s CCS facility near Estevan, 

Saskatchewan, Canada, has captured more than 3 million metric tons of CO2. 

SaskPower has committed to reducing its GHG emissions by at least 40% 

below 2005 levels by 2030 through increased use of renewable energy, as 

well as by continuing to utilize CCS technology. From Carbon Capture Journal 

on November 8, 2019.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PROJECT and BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

Drilling Operations Begin for CO2 Storage Project.

Drilling operations at a CO2 storage project in southern Australia have begun. 

Easternwell will drill four wells for its project with CO2CRC’s Otway in Victoria, 

Australia, using their Rig 103, which is capable of drilling production and 

core extraction wells 2,400 meters deep. The objective of the project is to 

demonstrate the efficiency of implementing solutions for monitoring CO2. From 

Ferrovial Newsroom on November 11, 2019.

Demonstration Plant Reaches CO2 Injection Target.

Japan CCS (JCCS) achieved its target of 300,000 metric tons of CO2 injection 

at the Tomakomai CCS Demonstration Project in Tomakomai City, Hokkaido 

Prefecture, Japan. JCCS was selected by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, 

and Industry of Japan to demonstrate CO2 reduction technologies. The CCS 

demonstration project at Tomakomai commenced in FY 2012; in November 

2019, the cumulative CO2 injection reached the 300,000 metric ton target. A 

monitoring operation will be conducted at the project site. From JCCS Media 

Release on November 25, 2019.

JANUARY 2020

North Dakota Company Advances Carbon Storage Project.

A North Dakota (USA) ethanol company is preparing to store its CO2 emissions 

underground. Red Trail Energy plans to drill a test well on its property to 

examine the geology in which it intends to store its CO2. The North Dakota 

Industrial Commission approved the CCS project in 2019. If tests confirm the 

practicality of CCS operations, Red Tail Energy could begin injection in 2021. 

From Casper Star Tribune on December 11, 2019. 

Companies Commit to CCS.

ExxonMobil, Shell, Air Liquide, and Air Products signed an agreement 

with Porthos, a CCS project organization, to commit to work in parallel on 

preparations for the capture, transport, and storage of CO2 from their refineries 

and hydrogen production facilities in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Porthos has 

begun technical preparations for transporting and storing CO2 beneath the 

North Sea. From Carbon Capture Journal on December 9, 2019. 

Seismic Data to Be Used in CCS Project.

The CCUS Net Zero Teesside project planned for North East of England 

purchased seismic datasets to verify the suitability for CO2 storage in offshore 

reservoirs located in the Permian Gas Basin in the southern North Sea. The 

seismic datasets were purchased from TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company 

(TGS), which provides geoscience data to oil and gas companies. From TGS 

Press Release on December 5, 2019. 

Proposals Sought for CCS Pilot.

The University of Wyoming (UW) Energy Resources Council is seeking proposals 

for a coal-based pilot project for capturing at least 75% of CO2 from coal 

power plants. The call for proposals was posted by UW’s School of Energy 

Resources (SER) on behalf of the Wyoming State Legislature. The Wyoming 

State Legislature appropriated $5 million for the program during its 2019 

session; final submissions of proposals are due February 14, 2020. From 

Carbon Capture Journal on December 15, 2019.

FEBRUARY 2020

Oxy, Total Team Up for Carbon Storage Project.

Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) and Total announced a consortium to assess the 

viability of a commercial-scale carbon capture facility. The joint study will 

evaluate the cost of capturing 725,000 metric tons of CO2 per year from a 

cement plant in Florence, Colorado (USA); emissions will be separated utilizing 

a solid adsorbent nanomaterial developed by the Canadian-based company 

Svante, and stored underground by Oxy. From Journal of Petroleum Technology

on January 7, 2020. 

Oil Company to Expand CCUS Capacity.

The state oil company of the United Arab Emirates announced plans to expand 

its CCUS capacity six-fold, reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 

by 25% by 2030. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s (Adnoc) sustainability 

plan is to expand the capacity of the region’s commercial-scale CCUS facility 

from its current rate of 800,000 metric tons of CO2 captured per year to 5 

million metric tons per year by 2030. In addition, Adnoc will plant 10 million 

mangrove seedlings in Abu Dhabi in order to capture and store additional CO2. 

From Kallanish Energy News on January 14, 2020.

Companies Sign MOU on CCUS R&D.

Adnoc and Eni—Italy’s energy company—signed a Memorandum of 

Understanding (MOU) to explore potential CCUS collaboration opportunities. 

According to the terms of the MOU, the two companies will explore 

geomechanical and geochemical workflows for CCUS programs. From Adnoc 

Press Release on January 20, 2020.

MARCH 2020

Study to Map UK Offshore CO2 Storage Potential.

A study conducted by Heriot-Watt University (Edinburgh, Scotland) will produce 

a roadmap for CO2 storage in the United Kingdom (UK) by identifying sites 

with CO2 storage potential. Funded by the Oil and Gas Technology Centre 

and supported by the UK regulator Oil and Gas Authority, the study will focus 

on mapping the geological features of the gas fields of the southern North 

Sea. The sites with the most CO2 storage potential, as well as those with any 

potential release points, will be identified, and the overburden will be mapped 

to develop mitigation strategies and warning systems for any possible CO2

release. From Carbon Capture Journal on February 5, 2020.

ExxonMobil to Expand Carbon Capture Facility, EOR Operations.

ExxonMobil filed a permit application to expand its carbon capture facility in 

LaBarge, Wyoming (USA) and construct a pipeline and CO2 injection well. In 

addition, ExxonMobil plans to add compressors to capture approximately 50% 

more CO2 from natural gas streams than existing infrastructure allows; the CO2

will then likely be used for EOR. The company plans to begin construction later 

this year and complete the project by 2020. From Billings Gazette on February 

10, 2020.

Monitoring Work Completed for North Sea CCS Project.

Ashtead Technology completed subsea installation monitoring work to support 

the Northern Lights carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in the North 

Sea. Ashtead Technology monitored the installation of an Integrated Satellite 

Structure with their Deflection Monitoring System and equipment, which 

monitored and analyzed parameters in real-time, reducing the risk of structural 

damage by enabling any potential issues to be acted upon quickly. Developed 

by Equinor in partnership with Shell and Total, the Northern Lights CCS project 

seeks to capture and transport CO2 from onshore sources and store it under 

the seabed. From Oilfield Technology on February 13, 2020.

Pre-FEED Carbon Capture Study Commissioned.

Chevron Technology Ventures commissioned a pre-front end engineering 

design (FEED) study to explore the potential for testing technology by Svante 

Inc. (formerly Inventys Inc.). The pre-FEED study will evaluate the feasibility 

and design of a CO2 capture unit in one of Chevron’s California (USA) facilities 

and is expected to be complete in the first half of 2020. From Hydrocarbon 

Engineering on February 12, 2020. 

Drax Announces New CCUS Projects.

Drax Group announced new partnerships with cleantech company Econic 

Technologies and Deep Branch Biotechnology that may lead to projects using 

CCUS technology. In addition, Drax is working with multiple businesses to 

deliver a zero-carbon industrial cluster by 2040, in which CO2 from industry 

across the region (North of England) could be captured, transported, and stored 

under the North Sea. From Drax Press Release on January 30, 2020. 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PROJECT and BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

Partnership Receives Grant to Incorporate Carbon Storage.

A partnership consisting of towns and non-profit organizations in Massachusetts 

(USA) received a grant from the state that may be used to incorporate carbon 

storage practices. The Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership plans to utilize the 

grant to conduct a regional feasibility study to explore forestry management 

practices that incorporate carbon storage. The Mohawk Trail Woodlands 

Partnership works to increase natural resource-based economic development, 

support forest conservation on private land and use of sustainable forestry 

practices, and improve the fiscal sustainability of towns and cities. 

From Greenfield Recorder on February 12, 2020.

APRIL 2020

NETL-Funded Research Project to Study Geologic CO2 Storage.

Scientists at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (USA) are 

researching geologic CO2 storage through two projects, one of which is funded 

by DOE/NETL’s University Coalition for Fossil Energy Research Program. This 

project aims to develop a machine-learning-based, scale-bridging, data 

assimilation framework with applications to geologic CO2 storage. The other 

project is funded by the National Science Foundation to study the fundamentals 

of miscible density-driven convection in porous media, which is encountered in 

geologic carbon storage. From Carbon Capture Journal. March 2020.

ADNOC Expands CCUS Program.

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) announced plans to expand its 

CCUS program. According to officials, ADNOC plans to expand the capacity 

of the program by more 500%, with a goal of reaching 5 million metric tons 

of CO2 per year. ADNOC’s Al Reyadah facility in the emirate of Abu Dhabi 

currently has the capacity to capture 800,000 metric tons of CO2 annually. 

From Gasworld. February 2020.

Drilling Project Confirms Carbon Storage Site.

Results from drilling at the Northern Lights project were released and, according 

to the Norwegian Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, the respective area on 

the Norwegian Continental Shelf could be suitable for CO2 storage. Part of 

Norway’s full-scale CO2 capture and return project, the Northern Light project 

will capture CO2 from a cement plant in Brevik and a waste-to-energy plant in 

Klemetsrud, eventually transporting it via pipeline offshore to a storage location 

below the seabed in the North Sea. From The Maritime Executive. March 2020.

CCS Assessment Atlas Completed in Canada.

TGS, a provider of geoscience data for exploration and production companies, 

announced the completion of a CCS assessment atlas, which provides an 

understanding of geologic carbon storage locations (onshore and offshore) 

throughout British Columbia. Collaborating with Canadian Discovery Limited, 

TGS created a framework for carbon storage assessment and an atlas for 

potential storage locations. From TGS Press Release. March 2020.

Energy Companies Join Forces on CCS.

Energy companies Santos and BP entered into an agreement to store up to 20 

million metric tons of CO2 per year in the Moomba gas fields in Australia. While 

the initial proposal is to store 1 million metric tons per year, the Cooper Basin 

(located mainly in the southwest part of Queensland, Australia) has the capacity 

to store up to 20 million metric tons per year for 50 years. The companies 

will next seek Australian government support in the form of carbon credits. 

From Australian Financial Review. March 2020.

UK CCS Project Progresses.

Costain, an infrastructure solutions company, was selected to provide technical 

consultancy services to the Acorn CCS project. The Pale Blue Dot Energy 

project is a CCS scheme with the objective to enable the capture and storage of 

current CO2 emissions from the onshore gas facilities at the St. Fergus terminal 

in Scotland. Acorn will take advantage of existing oil and gas infrastructure and 

a well-understood offshore CO2 storage site, which has a UK CO2 appraisal and 

storage license awarded by the UK Oil and Gas Authority. From Costain News 

Release. March 2020.

CCS Consortium to Develop Teesside Project.

The Oil and Gas Climate Initiative investment fund announced the formation of 

a consortium to accelerate the development of the Net Zero Teesside project, 

which plans to build a transportation and storage system to capture industrial 

CO2 and store it under the North Sea. In addition, Net Zero Teesside plans to 

sign three MOUs with existing industrial partners to evaluate technical and 

commercial cases for CCS. From Net Zero Teesside. February 2020.

Research Project Delivers Insights into the Monitoring of Stored CO2.

CO2CRC’s Otway Stage 2C research project provided findings regarding the 

monitoring of CO2 stored underground that were used for a larger project: 

CO2CRC’s Otway Stage 3. Work on Otway Stage 3 began in 2019 with the 

expansion of the Otway National Research Facility by drilling four monitoring 

wells. Equipped with fiber-optics sensing and subsurface gauges, Otway Stage 

3 is expected to demonstrate subsurface monitoring technologies and improve 

CO2 storage monitoring. From CO2CRC Media Release. February 2020.

MAY 2020

Partners Investigate Second Phase Under DOE’s CarbonSAFE Initiative.

The Kansas Geological Survey, along with private and public partners, is 

characterizing a site as one of DOE’s CarbonSAFE projects. The joint effort—

the Integrated Midcontinent Stack Carbon Storage Hub—is the second phase 

of the effort, with the objective of investigating the subsurface geology at sites 

in southwest Kansas and southwest Nebraska (USA) to verify the viability of CO2

storage. The CarbonSAFE Initiative aims to reduce technical risk, uncertainty, 

and costs of commercial-scale storage projects. From Phys.org. April 2020.

CCS Facility Provides Updated Capture Totals.

The CCS facility at SaskPower’s Boundary Dam Power Station in Saskatchewan, 

Canada, reported a total of 61,801 metric tons of CO2 captured in March 2020 

(approximately 62% of capacity). The average for the previous 12 months at 

the CCS facility was 55,328 metric tons of CO2 captured. The facility captured 

178,520 metric tons of CO2 in the first quarter of 2020 and has captured more 

than 3.2 million metric tons of CO2 since it went online in October 2014. From 

Pipeline News. April 2020.

Agreement Signed to Study CCS in Malaysia.

JOGMEC, JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration, and PETRONAS signed a joint 

agreement to study the use of CCS technology to develop gas fields in Malaysia 

that produce a mixture of methane and CO2. In the study, CO2 produced from 

the fields will be separated, captured, and injected into suitable storage 

reservoirs. From Carbon Capture Journal. March 2020.

Large-Scale Capture, EOR Project Announced.

Agreements to develop a large-scale CO2 capture facility that will include CO2-

enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations in an existing oil field were finalized. 

Starwood Energy and Oil and Gas Climate nitiatives (OGCI) Climate Investments 

announced the agreements for the facility, which will be integrated with a 

natural gas power plant. Jointly developed by Starwood and Elysian Ventures, 

LLC, the project will use commercially available CO2 capture technology and 

aims to capture 90% of the CO2 emissions from an existing power facility 

for use in EOR operations. From Starwood Energy Group Press Release. 

April 2020.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

8

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PROJECT and BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

CCUS Study Awarded.

The Athos consortium, which manages the Athos CCUS project in the 

Noordzeekanaal region of the Netherlands, awarded a concept select study 

to io consulting to support the review of options for CO2 transportation and 

storage from the region’s industrial CO2 emitters. io consulting will support 

an evaluation of the transportation infrastructure required to capture CO2 and 

transport it offshore to depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Dutch sector of 

the North Sea. From Carbon Capture Journal. April 2020.

Multi-Year CCUS Collaboration Announced.

Cambridge Quantum Computing (CQC) and Total S.A. announced a partnership 

to develop algorithms and quantum computing solutions for advanced CCUS 

technologies. The collaboration will apply CQC’s quantum computing and 

quantum chemistry experience to Total’s CCUS R&D efforts. From Cambridge 

Quantum Computing News Release. April 2020.

CCUS Projects Awarded Funding in UK.

United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) announced funding for a 

range of decarbonization projects for the first phases of the UK government’s 

Deployment and Roadmap Program strategies for decarbonization. The 

projects aim to help the UK achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 as part of 

the UK government’s Clean Growth Strategy. From Carbon Capture Journal. 

April 2020.

JUNE 2020

Technology Approved for Full-Scale Demo Project.

DNV GL, an international accredited registrar and classification society 

headquartered in Høvik, Norway, has approved technology for a full-scale 

demonstration project to remove CO2 emissions from a cement plant in Norway. 

The project, which was initiated by Gassnova (the Norwegian state’s agency 

for implementation of CCS projects), will apply carbon capture technology 

developed by Aker Solutions at Norcem’s Brevik, Norway, cement plant. The 

plant is part of Europe’s industrial demonstration of CCUS; the captured CO2 is 

expected to be transported to and injected into a CO2 storage site offshore of 

Norway. From DNV GL News Release. April 2020.

Feasibility Study to Assess CCS Options.

KBR was awarded a feasibility study to assess options for CCS in South East 

Asia. As part of the study, awarded by JX Nippon Oil & Gas Corporation, KBR will 

provide technical consultancy services for developing concepts and technology 

recommendations for CO2 capture and reinjection. KBR is a global provider of 

professional services and technologies within the government, technology, and 

energy solution sectors. From KBR Press Release. May 2020.

Investment in CCS Project Announced.

Equinor, Shell, and Total announced their intent to establish a joint venture 

company to invest in Norway’s Northern Lights project, part of the Norwegian 

full-scale CCS project. The investment decision concludes the study phase of 

the project during which the companies conducted engineering studies and 

project planning, drilled a confirmation well, and developed the necessary 

agreements. Phase I of the project includes capacity to transport, inject, 

and store up to 1.5 million metric tons of CO2 per year. If approved by the 

Norwegian government, Phase I is expected to be operational in 2024. 

From Total News Release. May 2020.

Partnership to Capture, Store CO2.

LafargeHolcim, a Swiss building material company, is partnering with Solidia 

Technologies, a U.S.-based cement and concrete technology company, to 

reduce CO2 across its value chain. Combined, the two companies’ solutions 

capture and store CO2 and emit up to 30% less CO2 during cement production, 

leading to 70% reduced-carbon concrete. From World Cement. May 2020.

JULY 2020

Alberta CCS Project Fully Operational.

The Alberta Carbon Trunk Line (ACTL) CCUS system—an approximately 150-

mile pipeline that transports CO2 for geologic storage via enhanced oil recovery 

(EOR)—was announced as fully operational. The ACTL utilizes and stores 

CO2 captured at a refinery and a fertilizer plant located in Alberta, Canada. 

Combined, the refinery and fertilizer plant connected to the ACTL system have 

a storage capacity of approximately 1.6 million metric tons of CO2 per year. 

From Gasworld. June 2020.

Contract Awarded for CCUS Project in Netherlands.

MAN Energy Solutions was awarded an engineering contract for the Port of 

Rotterdam CO2 Transport Hub and Offshore Storage (Porthos) project in the 

Netherlands. The Porthos project plans to store approximately 2.5 million tons 

of CO2 per year under the North Sea. As part of the contract, MAN Energy 

Solutions will engineer three RG compressor trains, with an order for three 

additional units anticipated at a later stage. From MAN Energy Solutions Press 

Release. May 2020.

CCS Research Grant Issued.

The Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) received a grant from 

the North Dakota Industrial Commission to continue research into CCS at 

ethanol plants. Red Trail Energy, located near Richardton, North Dakota (USA), 

will be used as a case study, with the grant enabling EERC to complete a CO2

storage facility permitting guidance document. From The Bismarck Tribune. 

June 2020. 

Consortium to Develop Shared CO2 Storage and Transport 

Infrastructure.

A consortium of chemical and energy companies aims to build CO2

infrastructure to support future CCUS applications at the Belgian port of 

Antwerp, including a shared CO2 liquefaction plant, storage facilities, and CO2

transport infrastructure. From Energy Live News. June 2020.

CCS Plant Launched in Sweden.

A CCS plant has begun operations at a refinery in Lysekil, Sweden. Within 

the Preem CCS pilot project, the entire value chain (e.g., CO2 capture at the 

refinery, local storage, transport to storage location off the Norwegian west 

coast) will be evaluated. According to the Swedish fuel company Preem, the 

goal is for the tests to form the basis for a full-scale CCS plant that can be 

operational by 2025. The pilot project is a collaboration among Preem, Aker 

Solutions, Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), Equinor, and the 

Norwegian research institute SINTEF. From Preem Press Release. May 2020.

Consortium to Investigate Feasibility of CCUS.

A consortium of Belgian and Dutch companies will investigate the feasibility of 

CCUS. The Carbon Connect Delta Project will research the technical, economic, 

and legal aspects of the technology; the infrastructure needed for CO2

transport; financing options; commercial feasibility; and permit procedures. 

The consortium expects to conclude the feasibility study by the end of 2020, 

after which the project will be further developed to completion. From Smart 

Delta Resources. May 2020.

CCS Pilot Phase Successfully Completed.

A waste-to-energy plant in Oslo, Norway, successfully validated its CCS pilot 

phase. One of two sites being evaluated as part of Norway’s plan for a fullscale, full-chain CCS project, Fortum Oslo Varme’s Klemetsrud site started the 

pilot phase in March 2019. Captured CO2 from the plant will be transported to 

an onshore storage area in western Norway before transport via pipeline to an 

offshore storage reservoir. From The Chemical Engineer. May 2020.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

9

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PROJECT and BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

Contract Awarded for CCS Project.

Wood, an Aberdeen-based engineering company, was awarded a contract to 

provide design services for the Humber Zero project, a CCS project located 

in the Humber region of England. Work will involve capturing CO2 emissions 

from three industrial sites in the area for CO2 storage in depleted North Sea 

reservoirs. From The Herald. June 2020.

AUGUST 2020

Offshore CO2 Storage Consortium Formed.

A CO2 storage consortium, comprised of Maersk Drilling, INEOS Oil & Gas 

Denmark, and Wintershall Dea, will target the development of CO2 storage 

capacity offshore Denmark based on reusing discontinued offshore oil 

and gas fields for CO2 storage. The first phase of the CCS project will be a 

feasibility study to validate reservoir compatibility, followed by a CO2 injection 

pilot test. The long-term goal of the project is to develop the capacity to store 

approximately 3.5 million tons of CO2 per year by 2030. From Maersk Drilling 

Press Release. June 2020.

Research Project Commenced at Otway.

A team of engineers began a research project at the Otway National Research 

Facility (located in south-western Victoria, Australia) that focuses on reducing 

the long-term cost of CO2 storage monitoring. A water tracer technology team 

from Deakin University will seek to develop new ways to track variations in 

water quality in groundwater above rock that acts as a natural barrier to 

saline formations and stored CO2. The Otway National Research Facility

was established in 2008 to demonstrate that CO2 could be safely captured, 

transported, and injected and stored in different geologic formations. From 

Carbon Capture Journal. July 2020.

Project Uses CCS to Produce Hydrogen from Natural Gas.

A project to produce hydrogen from natural gas in combination with CCS is 

being developed in the United Kingdom (UK). The initial phase of the Hydrogen 

to Humber Saltend (H2H Saltend) project comprises a 600-megawatt auto 

thermal reformer with CO2 capture to convert natural gas to hydrogen. Later 

phases can serve other industrial users, enabling a large-scale network for 

transporting and storing captured CO2 emissions. The H2H Saltend project 

supports the UK government’s aim to establish at least one low-carbon 

industrial cluster by 2030 and a net-zero cluster by 2040. From Equinor News 

Release. July 2020.

CCS Systems Used at Cement Plant.

Carbon8 Systems signed a commercial agreement to deploy its CCUS systems 

at a cement plant in France. Carbon8’s CO2ntainer system will be integrated 

into the existing industrial processes onsite at the cement plant and will capture 

CO2 from the plant’s flue gas emissions. The CO2 will then be used to convert 

cement bypass dust into construction aggregates. The aggregates can then be 

repurposed in various commercial applications, such as lightweight concrete 

blocks. From Carbon Capture Journal. July 2020.

CCS Project Receives Grant.

The North Dakota Industrial Commission awarded a grant to Midwest AgEnergy 

Group to advance the development of a potential CCS system at the Blue Flint 

facility located near Underwood, North Dakota (USA). The research will include 

drilling a stratigraphic well to examine the geology of the surrounding area and 

collecting core samples that will be analyzed for suitability to store CO2 in saline 

formations. If the project is successful, the Blue Flint facility anticipates storing 

approximately 200,000 tons per year. From Ethanol Producer Magazine. 

June 2020. 

Collaboration to Use CCS to Transport Liquefied CO2.

Preem signed a collaborative agreement with industry and government 

stakeholders to create a joint infrastructure for transporting liquefied CO2

extracted using CCS technology. The CinfraCap project will identify an industryscale logistics system required to support CCS, eventually presenting proposals 

for an optimized infrastructure that links to other CCS projects. From Preem 

Press Release. June 2020.

Full-Scale Demo Project Approved by Norwegian State 

Agency for CCS.

Gassnova, the Norwegian state agency for CCS projects, is supporting a fullscale carbon capture demonstration project at a waste-to-energy plant in 

Oslo, Norway. The project, which tested Shell’s CANSOLV CO2 carbon capture 

technology at Fortum Oslo Varme’s Waste-to-Energy plant at Klemetsrud in 

Oslo, is expected to contribute to Norway’s emission goals. A pilot initiated 

at Klemetsrud in 2018 captured more than 90% of all flue gas; according 

to officials, going full-scale with CCS will improve the plant’s environmental 

performance by helping it achieve net-negative emissions. From DNV GL 

Media Release. July 2020.

SEPTEMBER 2020

CO2 Conversion Projects Receive DOE Funding.

In June 2020, DOE/FE and NETL selected 11 projects to receive funding 

through the Carbon Utilization Program. The University of California, Los 

Angeles (UCLA) will develop a process capable of converting CO2 emissions 

into construction materials. The technology captures CO2 emitted from power 

plants, cement plants, and other CO2 producers, using it to make a form of 

concrete known as CO2Concrete, which is expected to have a carbon footprint 

50 to 70% lower than that of regular concrete. In addition, the University of 

Louisiana at Lafayette will develop a way to convert CO2 into ethylene with 

low pulses of electricity; by comparison, current methods of producing the 

chemical emit 200% more CO2. From UCLA News Release, July 2020; and The 

University of Louisiana at Lafayette, August 2020.

KGS Joins DOE-Funded Project.

The Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) is partnering with the Carbon Utilization 

and Storage Partnership (CUSP) to research CO2 storage. CUSP, made up of 

15 other entities, is led by the Petroleum Recovery Research Center at the 

New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, which was awarded funding 

for the project by DOE. KGS will also work with CUSP members on methods 

to analyze data that may provide a better understanding of infrastructure 

development potential, infrastructure costs, and ways to optimize future project 

development. From The University of Kansas. August 2020.

DOE-Funded FEED Contract Awarded for CCS Project.

A front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract was awarded to Fluor 

Corporation for a CCS project in Tupman, California (USA). Flour will use its 

carbon capture technology to provide engineering services for the licensed 

process unit and required utility systems at the 550-megawatt, natural gaspowered Elk Hills Power Plant. The project is a collaboration between the 

Electric Power Resource Institute (EPRI), California Resources Corporation, and 

Flour. The FEED is funded by DOE through collaboration with EPRI as part of 

a larger initiative to advance carbon capture technology development. From 

Business Wire. July 2020.

Geologic Carbon Storage Project Progresses.

The Wales-based Flexible Integrated Energy Systems (FLEXIS) Project is 

collaborating with Polish and German entities to establish an underground 

research observatory to study European coal reserves for carbon storage. 

The three-year ROCCS project (establishing a Research Observatory to unlock 

European Coal seams for Carbon dioxide Storage) will conduct in-situ tests at 

the Experimental Mine Barbara in Mikołów, Poland, where a horizontal well 

system will be installed for CO2 injection. A large-scale commercial site will be 

selected and analyzed for CO2 storage. From Gasworld. July 2020.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

10

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PROJECT and BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS

Australian CCUS Study Announced.

National Energy Resources Australia (NERA) and CO2CRC announced a study 

into CCUS to assist the Australian energy resources sector in reducing CO2

emissions. The two-phase study will first rank oil and gas basins in Australia 

for their potential use of CO2-EOR. The second phase will provide industry and 

government stakeholders with insight into potential CO2-EOR opportunities at 

the field level in Australian onshore basins. In addition, the study will evaluate 

policies, incentives, and regulations with the potential to help Australia adopt 

CO2-EOR and CO2 storage. From CO2CRC Media Release. July 2020.

Carbon Storage Company Acquired.

Oil and gas company Shell Australia is acquiring a carbon management firm as 

part of its net-zero emissions strategy. Shell will acquire the Australian-based 

Select Carbon for its Nature-Based Solutions business, which specializes in 

CO2 storage in forests, grasslands, wetlands, and other natural ecosystems. 

From Kallanish Energy. August 2020.

Companies to Collaborate on CCS.

Petrofac, an international service provider to the energy industry, signed a 

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Storegga Geotechnologies, an 

independent supporter of CCS, to build new energy capability and capacity 

in the United Kingdom. Under the MOU, the companies will collaborate on 

potential business development and project initiatives in CCS and other lowcarbon projects. From Petrofac Press Release. August 2020.

JDA Signed to Develop CCUS Projects.

Carbon Clean Solutions Limited (CCSL) signed a Joint Development Agreement 

(JDA) with Marubeni Corporation, a Japanese integrated trading and 

investment company, to develop and invest in CCUS projects. The JDA builds 

on an existing relationship between the two companies; Marubeni previously 

invested in CCSL to help it deliver its CO2 capture technology for CCUS projects 

across the steel, cement, waste management, and refining and petrochemicals 

sectors. From Carbon Capture Journal. August 2020.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

11

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 LEGISLATION and POLICY

LEGISLATION and POLICY

OCTOBER 2019

Businesses Call for Long-Term, Stable Carbon Pricing Policies.

A report by the High-Level Commission on Carbon Pricing and Competitiveness 

focuses on the benefits of adopting carbon pricing policies. According to 

the report, carbon pricing combined with other policies, such as increased 

investment in low-carbon technologies, can help drive innovation in industries, 

foster continuous process improvement, and facilitate the transition to a 

low-carbon economy. The High-Level Commission on Carbon Pricing and 

Competitiveness includes private sector leaders and senior government 

officials that explore the evidence base, business concerns, and lessons 

learned from carbon pricing systems across the world. From Carbon Pricing 

Leadership Coalition on September 21, 2019.

EU Officials Discuss CCS Funding.

European Union agriculture ministers agreed that increasing carbon storage 

in soil to reduce greenhouse gasses (GHGs) would require funding. The EU 

farming officials gathered at an informal meeting in Helsinki, Finland, hosted 

by the current Finnish presidency. In addition to discussing how best to support 

carbon capture through the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy, the 

ministers discussed the need for more flexibility in meeting target measures 

for CCS. From EURACTIV on September 26, 2019.

NOVEMBER 2019

Legislation to Invest in Carbon Capture, Storage Introduced.

Legislation to establish a program leading to the construction of transportation 

infrastructure for anthropogenic CO2 was introduced in the U.S. House of 

Representatives. Under the “Investing in Energy Systems for the Transport of 

CO2 (INVEST CO2) Act,” CO2 captured at industrial sources would be transported 

via pipeline for storage or for beneficial use. From Congresswoman Cheri 

Bustos Press Release on October 29, 2019. 

Amendment Allows for Transboundary CCS Projects.

Parties to the London Protocol agreed that transboundary export of CO2

for the purpose of CCS could now be provisionally allowed under certain 

circumstances. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) resolution will 

allow for subsea CCS projects to be shared across national boundaries. Since 

2006, the London Protocol has provided the basis in international environmental 

law for governments to allow CCS under the seabed. According to IMO officials, 

adoption of the resolution is expected to limit barriers for countries looking to 

pursue CCS under such scenarios. From The Maritime Executive on October 

14, 2019.

Germany Approves Legislation to Reduce CO2 Emissions.

The German cabinet approved legislation aimed at reducing CO2 emissions 

by 55% in 2030. The legislation includes annual targets for CO2 emissions 

specific for each sector. A monitoring commission will assess the annual 

targets every year, triggering additional measures if they are not met. From 

S&P Global on October 9, 2019.

DECEMBER 2019

EU Countries Increase Funding for Low-Carbon Investment.

Five European Union (EU) member states increased funding to the 

Modernization Fund, which is a pool of carbon allowances that will be 

auctioned after 2020 to finance low-carbon investments in Europe. According 

to the European Commission, the increase in funding is expected to amount 

to more than 350 additional EU carbon allowances, which will be sold on the 

common EU auctioning platform in equal shares for each year from 2021 to 

2030. The Modernization Fund supports low-carbon investments in the energy 

systems of 10 EU member states (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, 

Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia). From S&P Global on 

November 11, 2019.

New Program Promotes CO2 Storage.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation 

Service and the Nature Conservancy have partnered on a program to support 

sustainable forests and carbon market development in targeted areas in 

Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky (USA). The Healthy Forest Reserve Program

will offer financial assistance for specific conservation actions on private 

forests and tribal lands. Landowners who develop a carbon forest project will 

also get assistance with carbon credit development. From CBS19 News on 

November 13, 2019.

JANUARY 2020

Coal-to-Products Bill Introduced to Establish Program Within DOE.

U.S. Senators introduced legislation to establish a dedicated program within 

DOE that focuses on advancing the research and promotion of coal-derived 

carbon products. Enactment of the Creating Opportunities and Leveraging 

Technologies for Coal Carbon Act (COAL TeCC Act) is expected to enhance 

ongoing work at DOE, being carried out through NETL, to utilize coal as a 

precursor for value-added products. The COAL TeCC Act also directs DOE to 

establish a pilot and demonstration program in Appalachia to help coal-derived 

carbon products reach the commercialization phase. From U.S. Senator Shelley 

Moore Capito Press Release on December 13, 2019.

Drax to Use BECCS to Become 

Carbon-Negative.

British electrical power generation company Drax announced plans to become 

carbon-negative by 2030 through the use of BECCS technology. Drax is 

planning to scale-up the use of CO2 capture technologies in its power plant in 

Yorkshire, England, to remove more CO2 from the atmosphere than it produces 

in advance of CCS-related government policy and investment framework. From 

Business Green on December 10, 2019.

US Senators Introduce Legislation with Potential 

to Increase CO2 Storage

A group of U.S. Senators introduced legislation that addresses reforestation, 

which could potentially increase the natural storage of CO2 emissions. The 

Reforestation Act of 2019 provides funding to the U.S. Forest Service to carry 

out projects in forests affected by events such as wildfires, insect infestations, 

and disease. Among other activities, reforestation includes the replanting 

of forests, which is expected to increase natural carbon storage. From U.S. 

Senator Tom Udall Press Release on December 19, 2019.

FEBRUARY 2020

Norway Proposes to Invest in CCS.

The Norwegian government proposed to invest in the development of CCS 

projects in 2020, including support for a full-scale CO2 capture, transport, and 

storage project. The government’s budget proposal for 2020 would provide 

funds for operating the Technology Centre at Mongstad (a test center for 

developing CO2 capture technologies) and the research program CLIMIT (a 

program focusing on the research, development, and demonstration [RD&D] of 

CCS technologies). From Energy Live News on January 8, 2020.

Wyoming Budget Proposal Looks to Accelerate CCS.

The Governor of Wyoming revealed a list of budget priorities that included 

accelerating the commercial development of CCS technologies. The budget 

proposal includes the establishment of an Energy Commercialization Program 

that would focus on advancing coal and CCS research. From Natural Gas 

Intelligence on January 15, 2020.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

12

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 LEGISLATION and POLICY

Massachusetts Senate Bills Could Reduce GHG Emissions.

The Massachusetts Senate unveiled bills that include a package that sets a 

statewide “net-zero” emissions GHG limit for 2050. To reach the proposed 

GHG reduction goals, the legislation requires the state to realize its nearterm CO2 limits every five years, beginning in 2025. From The Hour on 

January 23, 2020.

MARCH 2020

CCUS Legislation Proposed.

Legislation that promotes R&D for carbon capture technology and researches 

solutions for CO2 utilization was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

The New Energy Frontiers Through Carbon Innovation Act directs existing DOE 

funds for research, development, and deployment of carbon capture technology 

for natural gas-generated power, and also establishes a “Carbon Innovation 

Hub” that will examine solutions to CO2 utilization. From U.S. Congressman Dan 

Crenshaw Press Release on February 12, 2020.

US Representative Introduces Legislation Incentivizing Carbon Storage.

Legislation that incentivizes the use of wood products as carbon storage 

devices by planting 1 trillion trees globally by 2050 was introduced in the U.S. 

House of Representatives. The Trillion Trees Act is based on a 2019 Swiss 

report featured by the American Academy for the Advancement of Science 

that concluded planting 1 trillion trees throughout the world could store 205 

gigatonnes of CO2. The act has three parts: (1) plant more trees in urban areas, 

(2) grow more wood in existing forests, and (3) store more CO2 by incentivizing 

innovative building practices. From U.S. Congressman Bruce Westerman Press 

Release on February 12, 2020. 

Bill Seeks Net-Zero CO2 Emissions in US by 2050.

A group of U.S. senators introduced a bill that would require the United States 

to become “net-zero” by 2050. The Clean Economy Act would require the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a plan to reduce greenhouse 

gas (GHG) emissions by 2025, 2030, and 2040, before reaching net-zero 

emissions by 2050. From The Hill on February 11, 2020.

Legislation Looks to Expand Carbon Storage Tax Credit.

Legislation to expand the 45Q carbon storage tax credit and make it permanent 

in the federal tax code was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Section 45Q provides a tiered tax credit for projects that permanently store 

CO2, with the current law requiring that projects begin before 2024 in order 

to qualify. In addition to making the credit permanent, the legislation would 

enhance the value of the credit by 25% for both tiers and reduce the minimum 

amount of CO2 that must be stored for a direct air capture project to qualify 

from 100,000 tons to 50,000 tons. From Ethanol Producer Magazine on 

February 13, 2020.

APRIL 2020

Executive Order Directs Oregon Agencies to Reduce Emissions.

Oregon’s Governor signed an executive order directing state agencies in 

Oregon (USA) to adopt a series of measures to reduce the state’s overall 

greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Under the order, the state will enforce a 

standard to lower the carbon impacts of transportation fuels and cap emissions 

from industrial processes, transportation fuels, and natural gas. According to a 

Governor’s Office press release, the order updates the state’s existing carbon 

emissions goals, setting a standard of 45% reduction from 1990 levels by 

2035, and an 80% reduction from 1990 levels by 2050. From The RegisterGuard. March 2020.

Vermont House Approves Bill.

The Vermont House approved legislation that would legally mandate the state 

to meet carbon emissions reduction targets. Under the legislation, Vermont 

(USA) would be required to develop a plan to reduce GHG emissions to 26% 

below 2005 levels by 2025. Emissions would also need to be 40% below 1990 

levels by 2030, and 80% below by 2050. From VTDigger. February 2020.

EU Unveils Industrial Strategy to be Carbon-Neutral by 2050.

The European Commission presented a new industrial strategy to help Europe 

become carbon-neutral by 2050. Included in the strategy are measures 

intended to strengthen current carbon release tools and secure a supply of 

low-carbon energy, as well as the development of an alliance of low-carbon 

industries. The government also announced that CCS will be established in at 

least two sites in the United Kingdom, one by the mid-2020s and a second by 

2030. From ReNews.biz. March 2020.

MAY 2020

Virginia Governor Signs Clean Energy Legislation.

The governor of Virginia (USA) signed the Virginia Clean Economy Act into 

law, requiring Virginia state electricity providers to become carbon free by 

2050. Under the new laws, Virginia plans to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas 

Initiative (RGGI). From Virginia Business. April 2020.

Shell Aims to Be Net-Zero by 2050.

Officials from Royal Dutch Shell laid out a strategy to reduce the company’s 

greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050. The company previously 

had long-term intensity-based targets rather than goals based on absolute 

emissions reductions. From Reuters. April 2020.

JUNE 2020

Policy Design to Finance CCUS Projects in US.

Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy released a report on 

CCUS policy configurations. The report found that additional policies would 

benefit and incentivize the deployment of CCUS in the commercial power 

market. The authors analyzed which policy configurations would incentivize the 

widespread deployment of CCUS in the U.S. electric generation industry. The 

results focused on the effect of ownership structure, the 45Q tax credit, capital 

cost incentives, and revenue enhancement incentives. More information, 

including the full report, a presentation, and a data-sharing portal, is available 

online. From Carbon Capture Journal. April 2020.

Roadmap Examines CO2 Emissions Reductions Through Technologies. 

CEMBUREAU (the European Cement Association) published its Carbon 

Neutrality Roadmap (CNR), examining how the European cement industry can 

reach net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050 and align with the European Green 

Deal. According to the roadmap, achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 will 

require the deployment of existing and new technologies, such as CCUS. 

The CNR also details the role these technologies could play in reducing CO2

emissions at each stage of the cement and concrete value chain and provides 

both technical and policy recommendations. From CemNet.com. May 2020. 

Australia’s Technology Investment Roadmap Considers 

CCS Technologies.

Australia’s federal government released its technology investment roadmap 

for reducing CO2 emissions over the next 30 years. CCS was among the 

technologies under consideration to meet the nation’s emissions goals, for 

which the Australian government recommended long-term investment. 

From ABC.net. May 2020.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 LEGISLATION and POLICY

UK Draft Accord Sets Path for Future UK-EU CO2 Trading.

In a draft technical energy accord released on its website, the UK set out 

the basis for potentially linking UK-European Union (EU) CO2 emissions 

trading systems (ETSs). The carbon pricing section of the draft accord states 

that the UK is open to linking to the EU ETS, which could potentially include 

enabling CO2 allowances from either entity to be used in either system. 

From S&P Global. May 2020.

JULY 2020

US Treasury Unveils Rules for CO2 Tax Credit Program.

The U.S. Department of Treasury released proposed regulations for 

implementing the 45Q federal tax code, which is designed to increase 

investment in CCS projects. The rules aim to provide clear guidelines to ensure 

investors and developers are capturing and storing the correct amount of CO2

required to receive the credits ($50 per metric ton of CO2 for storage projects 

and $35 per metric ton for CO2-EOR projects). Among the new measures in 

the proposed rule are monitoring requirements for projects to demonstrate 

safe, underground geologic CO2 storage and standards for measuring CO2

utilization. From Reuters. May 2020.

Switzerland to Extend CO2 Act Measures.

Switzerland’s Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy, 

and Communication launched a consultation process for a partial revision of 

the CO2 Act. The amendments will extend certain measures until the end of 

2021, as recently required by Parliament, and are subject to consultation until 

August 2020. Under the current CO2 Act, certain measures, such as CO2 tax 

exemptions guidelines, were set to expire at the end of 2020. From Lexology. 

June 2020. 

Scottish Support Package Includes Funding for CCS Project.

A support package announced by the Scottish government to help fund the 

energy sector due to impacts of COVID-19 includes funding for the Acorn CCS 

project. The Energy Transition Fund will support businesses in the oil, gas, and 

energy sectors over the next five years. From Carbon Capture Journal. June 

2020.

Bill Aims to Help Farmers Sell CO2 Credits.

Legislation was introduced in the U.S. Congress that would allow the agricultural 

industry to participate in a carbon credit market. The legislation tasks the 

U.S. Department of Agriculture with creating a certification program to assist 

farmers and forest landowners who use sustainable practices in implementing 

the protocols. From The Hill. June 2020.

AUGUST 2020

Examining Impact of Legal Framework on CCS.

Research examining the impact of legal framework for CCS projects in Canada 

and Mexico was published in the U.K.’s Environmental Liability: Law, Policy, 

and Practice. The paper was prompted by an agreement between Mexico 

and the University of Calgary’s Global Research Initiative to share expertise. 

From Haskayne School of Business News. June 2020. 

Consortium to Advise UK Government on CCS.

The UK Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy appointed a 

consortium to provide engineering and technical advice for advancing CCUS 

development in the UK. The consortium will support the design of a CCUS 

work program to enable the deployment of various projects during the 2020s 

and advise on the engineering and technical implications for CCUS business 

models, associated policy development, and CCUS cluster engagement. The 

consortium is part of the UK government’s goal to have the option to deploy 

CCUS at scale during the 2030s. From New Civil Engineer. July 2020.

White Paper Identifies Near-Term CCS Opportunities.

The Great Plains Institute and the University of Wyoming (USA) released a 

white paper presenting the results of modeling efforts to identify regional-scale 

CO2 transport infrastructure that would serve existing facilities and enable 

participation by new capture projects and facilities in the near future. The 

white paper identifies near-term CCS opportunities, designing and planning 

the regional transport infrastructure required to maximize CO2 reductions while 

minimizing cost and land use impacts throughout the Midwest, Rockies, Plains, 

Gulf Coast, and Texas. From Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute. July 2020.

SEPTEMBER 2020

CO2 Management Bill Proposed.

A proposed bill would establish a Committee on Large-Scale Carbon 

Management in the National Science and Technology Council and a Federal 

Carbon Removal Initiative, according to the U.S. congressional record bill 

summary. If enacted, S. 4341 would create a large-scale CO2 management 

program co-chaired by officials from DOE, as well as other institutions and 

U.S. departments, that would establish four working groups to pursue a 

Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) initiative. Using both natural and technological 

approaches, the working groups would focus on CDR in the oceans, 

atmosphere, and land. From The Ripon Advance. August 2020.

VA Governor Signs Legislation for Carbon-Free Future.

The Governor of Virginia (USA) signed legislation addressing the state’s carbonfree transition. The Virginia Clean Economy Act establishes a renewable 

portfolio standard to achieve 30% renewable energy by 2030, an energy 

efficiency resource standard, and a path to a carbon-free electric grid by 2045. 

From Governor Ralph Northam News Release. August 2020.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 EMISSIONS TRADING

EMISSIONS TRADING

OCTOBER 2019

Global Carbon Index Launched.

IHS Markit launched its Global Carbon Index, a benchmark for the global price of 

carbon credits. The IHS Global Carbon Index tracks the performance of tradable 

carbon markets, such as the EU Emissions Trading System, the California Capand-Trade Program, and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. According 

to the index, the global weighted average price of carbon credits is $23.65, 

with the data showing the total return potentially gained by investors in global 

carbon since the beginning of 2018 is 132%. From IHS Markit Press Release 

on September 25, 2019.

California and Québec Release Results of Joint 

Cap-and-Trade Auction.

California (USA) and Québec (Canada) released results of the 20th joint cap-andtrade auction of CO2 allowances. All 66,289,515 current vintage allowances 

(2016, 2017, and 2019) offered were sold at a settlement price of $17.16. All 

9,038,000 advance vintage allowances (2022) were sold at a settlement price 

of $16.85. The 21st Joint Auction will be held on November 19, 2019. From 

California Air Resources Board on August 27, 2019.

NOVEMBER 2019

Governor Signs Executive Order to Begin Process of Joining RGGI.

Pennsylvania’s Governor signed an executive order to begin the process of 

joining RGGI, a market-based program that focuses on reducing greenhouse 

gas (GHG) emissions in the United States. The executive order directs the 

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to begin drafting a set 

of regulations to govern the state’s entry into the program. From PennLive on 

October 3, 2019. 

RGGI States Initiate Auction Process for Auction 46.

The states participating in RGGI released the Auction Notice and application 

materials for their 46th quarterly CO2 allowance auction, to be held December 

4, 2019. The Auction Notice provides potential participants with the information 

needed to submit a Qualification Application and indicate their intent to bid. 

Auction 46 will offer 13,116,444 CO2 allowances for sale at a minimum 

reserve price of $2.26. A 10 million CO2 allowance cost containment reserve 

(CCR) will also be made available (the CCR will be accessed if the interim 

clearing price exceeds the CCR trigger price of $10.51). Auction 46 will be the 

last quarterly auction in which states will offer CO2 allowances for purchase to 

meet CO2 interim compliance obligations for the 2019 interim control period, 

which began on January 1, 2019. From RGGI on October 8, 2019.

Indonesia Starts Fund for Carbon Trading.

According to government officials, Indonesia is planning to develop a carbon 

trading market under a new agency formed to reduce GHG emissions. The 

Environment Fund Agency, which will be supervised by the Indonesian finance 

ministry, will also fund various carbon-reduction programs and seek multiple 

sources of financing. From Bloomberg on October 9, 2019.

New Digital Exchange Allows Trading of Carbon Credits.

A global blockchain-based carbon exchange for the transportation industry 

was launched, providing a marketplace for stakeholders to trade carbon 

emissions. The AirCarbon Exchange will provide a supply of carbon credits, 

known as eligible emission units, for buyers to acquire CO2 offsets. From The 

Business Times on October 30, 2019. 

DECEMBER 2019

RGGI States Release Reports.

The states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) released 

the 2017 Annual Electricity Monitoring Report. The “CO2 Emissions from 

Electricity Generation and Imports in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative: 

2017 Monitoring Report,” the ninth such annual monitoring report released by the 

RGGI states, summarizes data for electricity generation, electricity imports, and 

related CO2 emissions for the RGGI states. In addition, the independent market 

monitor for RGGI released a report containing information on the secondary 

market for RGGI CO2 allowances, including future prices, market activity, and 

allowance holdings. Potomac Economics’ “Report on the Secondary Market 

for RGGI CO2 Allowances: Third Quarter 2019” addresses the period from July 

through September 2019. The report is part of Potomac’s ongoing monitoring 

of the RGGI auctions and the secondary markets in which CO2 allowances 

are traded, and is based on data reported to the U.S. Commodity Futures 

Trading Commission and the Intercontinental Exchange, as well as other data. 

From RGGI News Releases on November 8 and 14, 2019.

Full Compliance Requirements Met for California Cap-and-Trade 

Program.

The California (USA) Air Resources Board (CARB) announced that all 

businesses covered by the state’s cap-and-trade program have fully met their 

compliance obligations for 2018. In addition, CARB released data from the 

Mandatory Reporting Regulation (MRR), which shows that emissions remained 

below 1990 levels in 2018. The MRR data also indicates that California is 

on track to meet the GHG reduction target of 2020 under Assembly Bill 32. 

From California Air Resources Board News Release on November 4, 2019.

JANUARY 2020

Results of 46th RGGI Auction Released.

The states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) 

announced the results of their 46th auction of CO2 allowances. A total of 

13,116,444 CO2 allowances were sold at a clearing price of $5.61, with bids 

ranging from $2.26 to $8.00 per allowance. In addition, none of the 10 million 

cost containment reserve (CCR) allowances made available were sold. (The 

CCR is a fixed additional supply of allowances made available if CO2 allowance 

prices exceed certain price levels [$10.51 in 2019].) Auction 46 generated 

$73.6 million for states to reinvest in strategic programs, including energy 

efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement programs. Additional details 

are available in the Market Monitor Report for Auction 46. From RGGI News 

Release on December 6, 2019.

Switzerland, EU Link Emissions Trading Systems.

Switzerland formally linked its GHG emissions trading system with the 

European Union Emissions Trading System in January 2020. The agreement 

to link cap-and-trade systems has the potential to increase the availability of 

reduction opportunities and enhance the cost efficiency of emissions trading. 

From Council of the EU Press Release on December 9, 2019.

FEBRUARY 2020

RGGI States Initiate Auction Process for Auction 47.

The states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) 

initiated the auction process for their 47th quarterly CO2 auction scheduled 

for March 11, 2020. Auction 47 will offer 16,208,347 CO2 allowances for 

sale at a minimum reserve price of $2.32. An 11.8 million CO2 allowance 

cost containment reserve (CCR) will also be made available (the CCR will be 

accessed if the interim clearing price exceeds the CCR trigger price of $10.77). 

From RGGI on January 14, 2020. 
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 EMISSIONS TRADING

Fund to Help Industries in EU ETS Reduce CO2 Emissions.

The European Commission proposed a European Union (EU) Just Transition 

Fund to help heavy industries reduce their CO2 emissions. Only plants in the 

EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and located in EU regions with carbon 

emissions at least twice the EU average would receive support through the 

proposed fund, which is part of a wider plan to keep the EU on the path to 

becoming carbon-neutral by 2050. From S&P Global on January 14, 2020.

Indonesia Plans to Start Carbon Trading in 2020.

Indonesian government officials announced plans to start carbon trading later 

this year. The draft regulation, anticipated to be submitted for approval in 2020, 

is expected to allow different carbon trading schemes, with the rules stipulating 

how carbon credits will be priced (e.g., credits from forest preservation 

and credits from industrial emissions reductions will be priced differently). 

From Reuters on January 16, 2020.

MARCH 2020

Virginia House Legislation Includes Cap-and-Trade Language.

The Virginia House of Delegates passed legislation that includes language 

to add the state to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) program. 

From WHSV on February 11, 2020.

RGGI Secondary Market Report Made Available.

The independent market monitor for the RGGI released a report containing 

information on the secondary market for RGGI CO2 allowances, including 

future prices, market activity, and allowance holdings. Potomac Economics’ 

“Report on the Secondary Market for RGGI CO2 Allowances: Fourth 

Quarter 2019” addresses the period from October through December 

2019. The report is part of Potomac’s ongoing monitoring of the RGGI 

auctions and the secondary markets where CO2 allowances are traded, 

and is based on data reported to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading 

Commission and the Intercontinental Exchange, as well as other data. 

From RGGI News Release on February 13, 2020.

IRS Issues Guidance on Carbon Capture Credits.

The U.S. Government Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued guidance to help 

businesses understand legislation on claiming carbon capture credits. The IRS 

also announced plans for future guidance on the secure geologic storage of 

CO2. Notice 2020-12 provides guidance to help businesses determine when 

construction has begun on a qualified facility or on carbon capture equipment 

that may be eligible for the carbon capture credit. Revenue Procedure 2020-

12 creates a safe harbor that simplifies the application of carbon capture 

credit rules to partnerships able to claim the credit. From IRS News Release

on February 19, 2020.

Partnership to Sell Carbon Offsets.

Spanish renewable energy company Acciona SA and Valencia-based Climate 

Blockchain Initiatives have partnered to support the global expansion of a 

carbon credits trading platform. The ClimateTrade platform uses blockchain 

technology to make commercial transactions of carbon offsets more efficient. 

From Renewables Now on February 19, 2020.

APRIL 2020

S&P Dow Jones Launches EU Carbon Allowance Index.

S&P Dow Jones Indices launched an index to track European Union carbon 

allowance prices. According to a press release, the new index provides investors 

with a publicly available investment performance benchmark for European 

Carbon Emission Allowances and is an expansion of the single-commodity 

series of indices based on the S&P GSCI. From Carbon Pulse. March 2020.

Results of 47th RGGI Auction Released.

The RGGI-participating states announced the results of their 47th auction of CO2

allowances. A total of 16,208,347 CO2 allowances were sold at a clearing price 

of $5.65, with bids ranging from $2.32 to $6.75 per allowance. In addition, 

none of the 11.8 million cost containment reserve (CCR) allowances made 

available were sold. (The CCR is a fixed additional supply of allowances made 

available if CO2 allowance prices exceed certain price levels [$10.77 in 2020].) 

Auction 47 generated $91.6 million for states to reinvest in strategic programs, 

including energy efficiency and GHG abatement programs. Additional details 

are available in the Market Monitor Report for Auction 47. From RGGI News 

Release. March 2020.

MAY 2020

RGGI States Initiate Auction Process for Auction 48, 

Release CO2 Budget Source Compliance Materials.

The states participating in RGGI’s 2020 auctions initiated the auction process 

for their 48th quarterly CO2 auction, scheduled for June 3, 2020. Auction 48 

will offer 16,336,298 CO2 allowances for sale at a minimum reserve price of 

$2.32. An 11.8 million CO2 allowance cost containment reserve (CCR) will 

also be made available. (The CCR will be accessed if the interim clearing price 

exceeds the CCR trigger price of $10.77.) In addition, the RGGI states released 

materials for CO2 budget source compliance for their fourth three-year control 

period, which is from January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2020. From

RGGI. April 2020.

Canadian Government Releases Notice of Intent 

to Amend Pricing Regulations.

The Canadian government announced an intent to amend carbon pricing 

regulations amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Canadian Minister of 

Environment and Climate Change intends to develop regulations for the 

country’s Output-Based Pricing System that would amend reporting 

requirements within Canadian provinces. From JD Supra. April 2020.

JUNE 2020

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Reports Made Available.

The states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) 

released two reports. The Annual Report on the Market for RGGI CO2

Allowances: 2019 evaluates market activity for RGGI CO2 allowances, focusing 

on allowance prices, trading and acquisition of allowances in the auctions 

and secondary market, participation in the market by individual firms, and 

market monitoring. More details on 2019 allowance prices, holdings, and 

market participation are available on RGGI’s Market Monitor Reports webpage. 

In addition, the Report on the Secondary Market for RGGI CO2 Allowances: 

First Quarter 2020 addresses the period from January through March 2020 

and contains information on the secondary market for RGGI CO2 allowances, 

including future prices, market activity, and allowance holdings. From RGGI 

News Releases. May 2020. 

EU, Swiss Carbon Trading Link Postponed.

The EU Commission announced that it had postponed the launch of a provisional 

mechanism for transferring carbon permits between Switzerland and the EU 

ETS. The EU and Switzerland linking agreement entered into force in January 

2020; however, for the linking to happen, a provisional mechanism for the 

transfer of permits had to be in place by May 2020. The EU Commission said 

this transfer has been postponed until September 2020 due to the COVID-19 

outbreak. From Today Online. May 2020.

Europe Carbon Trading Volumes Rise.

According to Germany’s emissions trading authority (DEHSt), trading 

volumes in Europe’s carbon trading market rose in the first quarter of 2020 

by 8% year-on-year. More than 1 billion allowances were traded in March 

2020, which was the largest volume in a single month since October 2018. 

From Montel News. May 2020. 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 EMISSIONS TRADING

German Bank Forecasts Global Carbon Offset Market.

The value of the global market for CO2 emissions offsets could increase from 

$0.6 billion (2019) to $200 billion by 2050, according to the German bank 

Berenberg. The bank states that as countries hit the limits of decarbonization, 

they will have to rely on offsetting projects to balance carbon emissions. 

Carbon offsets can include land-use projects that absorb CO2 (such as 

forest and marshland development programs) or changes to cleaner 

energy of industrial technologies that would otherwise be uneconomical. 

From S&P Global. May 2020.

JULY 2020

UK Plans Emissions Trading System.

The United Kingdom (UK) unveiled an Emissions Trading System (ETS) to 

replace the EU ETS; the UK will leave the EU ETS at the end of 2020. As part 

of the UK’s plan to reach net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, its ETS includes 

plans to reduce the emissions cap by 5%, according to the UK government. In 

addition, the UK ETS would include a fixed auction reserve price ($18.78 per 

metric ton of CO2) as well as a cost containment mechanism to prevent price 

spikes. From Reuters. June 2020.

New Zealand Bill to Reform ETS.

A series of annual carbon budgets was included in a bill by the New Zealand 

government to reform its ETS. A proposed cap on emissions included in the 

bill would lower the country’s GHG emissions by approximately 3% next year. 

From Stuff. June 2020.

AUGUST 2020

Virginia to Join RGGI.

The state of Virginia (USA) finalized its regulation to establish a market-based 

program to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) and will join the Regional 

Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) as a participant. Beginning on January 1, 

2021, Virginia will be able to take part in the quarterly CO2 auctions and will 

be a part of the RGGI program review process. From RGGI Press Release. 

July 2020.

RGGI States Initiate Auction Process for Auction 49.

The states currently participating in RGGI initiated the auction process for 

their 49th quarterly CO2 auction scheduled for September 2, 2020. Auction 

49 will offer 16,192,785 CO2 allowances for sale at a minimum reserve price 

of $2.32. An 11.8 million CO2 allowance cost containment reserve (CCR) will 

also be made available (the CCR will be accessed if the interim clearing price 

exceeds the CCR trigger price of $10.77). From RGGI. July 2020.

SEPTEMBER 2020

RGGI States Release Investment Report.

The RGGI-participating states released a report tracking the investment 

of proceeds from their 2018 regional CO2 allowance auctions. The report, 

which provides state-specific data and highlights, found that in 2018, $248 

million in proceeds generated in RGGI auctions were invested in programs 

such energy efficiency, clean and renewable energy, and greenhouse gas 

(GHG) abatement. Over their lifetime, the investments are projected to help 

reduce 4.6 million short tons of CO2 emissions. From RGGI News Release. 

July 2020.

EU, Switzerland to Link ETS.

The European Commission announced the merger of European Union (EU) 

and Swiss carbon markets. Originally scheduled for May 2020, the launch 

was delayed until September 2020 due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. 

Allowance transactions traded between the two markets will be transferred on 

10 separate one-day windows. The full calendar of transfer dates for 2021 will 

be released later in 2020. From Reuters. August 2020.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 SCIENCE NEWS

SCIENCE NEWS

OCTOBER 2019

Concrete Program Piloted.

Hawaii’s Department of Transportation initiated a pilot program to test the 

use of a carbon-storing form of concrete in road construction. CarbonCure’s 

concrete manufacturing process injects CO2 from an industrial emitter into a 

concrete mix, creating a chemical reaction that converts the CO2 into solid 

calcium carbonate. The resulting concrete mix is incorporated with other 

ingredients to form carbon-infused concrete. Honolulu’s City Council passed 

a resolution requesting that all new city infrastructure projects consider using 

carbon-infused concrete. From ZME Science on September 11, 2019.

Company Developing Personal Carbon Storage Device.

Hyper Industries, an artificial intelligence-focused tech company, is developing 

a personal-sized bioreactor that uses algae to capture and store CO2. According 

to the company, the Eos Bioreactor has the potential to store as much CO2 as 

an acre of trees. Currently a prototype, the closed system works indoors and 

connects with an HVAC system to reduce the CO2 levels. From Fast Company

on September 17, 2019.

Researchers Study Peatlands Carbon Storage Potential.

French researchers studied the effects of climate on the survival of peatlands, 

which store one-third of the soil carbon trapped in soils globally. The scientists 

came to their conclusions by studying the carbon uptake by the two main 

species of moss in Eastern France. The results of the study were published 

in the journal Global Change Biology. From Phys.org on September 16, 2019. 

NOVEMBER 2019

Researchers Develop New CO2 Capture, Conversion Material.

A team of researchers developed a material that can selectively capture CO2

and convert it into useful organic materials. Researchers at Kyoto University, the 

University of Tokyo, and Jiangsu University in China collaborated on designing 

the material, which is a porous coordination polymer (PCP) that consists of 

zinc metal ions. Testing revealed that the material can selectively capture CO2

molecules with 10 times more efficiency than other PCPs. After capturing the 

carbon, the converted material can be used to make polyurethane, a material 

with a wide variety of applications, including clothing, domestic appliances, and 

packaging. The research was published in the journal Nature Communications. 

From Kyoto University Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences on 

October 11, 2019.

Report Shows Glacial Rivers Absorb CO2 Faster than Rainforests.

University of British Columbia researchers found that the glaciers of Canada’s 

high Arctic absorb CO2 at a faster rate than the Amazon rainforest. The team of 

researchers collected meltwater samples on Ellesmere Island (Canada), where 

several glaciers flow into Lake Hazen; the team also gathered samples in the 

Rocky Mountains and Greenland. After analysis, the findings, published in the 

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that during highmelt periods, glacial river water absorbs 40 times as much CO2 as the Amazon 

rainforest. From The Guardian on October 25, 2019.

Study Highlights CO2 Storage Potential of Antarctic Krill.

According to a study published in Nature Communications, Antarctic krill can 

increase the ocean’s carbon storage potential through their feces. The small, 

shrimp-like creatures fertilize oceans and help store carbon by releasing 

essential nutrients that can be used by tiny ocean plants to photosynthesize 

and grow. Krill waste influences the carbon cycle by sinking to the deep ocean 

where it remains for many years, storing carbon in the process. From Phys.Org 

on October 21, 2019.

DECEMBER 2019

Engineers Develop New Way to Remove CO2.

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are 

researching a new way of removing CO2 from the air that could potentially 

work at any concentration level. According to the researchers, the new method 

is also less energy-intensive and less expensive compared to other methods, 

which require higher concentrations of the gas. The technique is described 

in an article published in the journal Energy and Environmental Science. 

From MIT News on October 24, 2019.

Tool Estimates Carbon Storage Potential.

A new tool enables farmers in New Zealand to estimate how much CO2 their 

tree blocks are capable of storing. The carbon stock tool adds to an existing 

GHG emissions analysis tool by using data from the Ministry for Primary 

Industries’ Carbon Look-Up Tables to estimate the carbon storage potential for 

existing and future tree blocks on farms (Carbon Look-Up Tables are a series of 

pre-calculated values of forest carbon stocks, by age, for a given forest type). 

From New Zealand Herald on November 2, 2019.

Researchers Study Business Potential of CCUS.

Researchers from UCLA, the University of Oxford, and five other institutions 

analyzed 10 different ways to use CO2, focusing on the potential of turning the 

captured CO2 into commercial products such as fuels or construction materials. 

Published in the journal Nature, the research presents a comprehensive study 

of the potential future scale and cost of utilizing CO2. From UCLA Samueli 

School of Engineering on November 6, 2019. 

JANUARY 2020

Geologic Capacity Exists to Store Large Quantities of CO2.

A study published in Nature Scientific Reports indicates the existence of geologic 

formations on Earth suitable for storing enough CO2 to provide a 13% reduction 

of worldwide emissions by 2050. The study states that drilling approximately 

12,000 carbon storage wells has the potential to store 6 to 7 billion tons of 

CO2 a year by 2050. Conducted by researchers from the Norwegian Institute 

of Science and Technology and the University of Texas, the study identified 

locations worldwide that could store CO2. From Yale Environment 360 on 

December 26, 2019.

Scientists Develop New Material for Absorbing CO2.

Swedish scientists developed a new material for capturing CO2 that may 

enhance CCUS technologies. The new material is a bio-based hybrid foam 

infused with CO2 zeolites, which has an elevated ability to absorb CO2. Results 

of the Swedish joint research study, conducted by scientists from Chalmers 

University of Technology and Stockholm University, were published in the journal 

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. From Chalmers University of Technology on 

December 9, 2019.

Study Identifies Carbon Storage Potential of Western US Forests.

Oregon State University researchers identified forests in the western United 

States that have carbon storage potential. The five-year study, which was 

supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, identified and targeted 

forests with high carbon storage potential; low vulnerability to drought, fire, and 

beetles; and high biodiversity value. The findings of the study were published 

in the journal Ecological Applications. From Oregon State University Newsroom 

on December 9, 2019.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 SCIENCE NEWS

FEBRUARY 2020

Military Researching Utilization of CO2 for Fuel.

The National Defense Authorization Act, passed in December 2019, included 

a provision directing the Pentagon to work with DOE and Homeland Security 

to research methods by which CO2 from ocean water and ambient air could 

be converted to fuel. According to a spokesperson, the U.S. Department of 

Defense is researching ways to use carbon capture technology “to address 

energy security for the military,” including capturing carbon for conversion to 

military transportation fuel and “alternative fuels or products” to be used at 

military installations. From Bloomberg Environment on January 15, 2020.

Testing Looks to Eliminate Some CCS Barriers.

The International CCS Knowledge Centre is developing a portable testing 

apparatus for post-combustion amine-based capture. The testing apparatus 

will seek to eliminate barriers to widespread deployment of CCS and further 

advance the technology. A design feature will allow the apparatus to connect 

to a variety of CO2-containing gas streams beyond coal-fired plants, creating 

the potential for advancement of CCS across industry sectors. From Carbon 

Capture Journal on January 13, 2020.

Study: Wildfires Could Transform Amazon From Carbon Sink 

to Carbon Source.

A study led by U.S. and Brazilian researchers has found that Amazon wildfires 

have the potential to convert the Amazon region from a carbon sink to a carbon 

source. The study used a model to examine different scenarios with various 

levels of deforestation, with the model predicting the behavior and spread of 

wildfires, as well as the way forest ecosystems would respond. The results, 

published in the journal Science Advances, also suggested that remaining 

Amazon trees, as a result of the wildfires, may store less CO2 as they grow. 

From Scientific American on January 14, 2020.

MARCH 2020

Nitrogen-Fixing Trees Help Forests Store More CO2.

According to a study published in the journal Nature Communications, the 

ability of tropical forests to store CO2 depends upon the trees’ capacity to fix 

nitrogen from the atmosphere. The study modeled how the mix of tree species 

growing in a tropical forest following a disturbance, such as clearcutting, can 

affect the forest’s ability to store CO2. The results showed that the presence of 

trees that fix nitrogen have the potential to double the amount of CO2 a forest 

stores in its first 30 years of growth. Furthermore, the researchers found that 

at maturity, forests with nitrogen fixation stored 10% more CO2 than those 

without. From Phys.org on February 13, 2020. 

Oceans: Particle Fragmentation Plays a Role in Carbon Storage.

A team of French and British researchers analyzed a process that regulates the 

capacity of oceans to store CO2. Photosynthesis performed by phytoplankton 

on the ocean’s surface converts atmospheric CO2 into organic particles, some 

of which sink to its depths, and are stored as oceanic carbon. By using a fleet 

of robots deployed in different oceans, scientists were able to study the particle 

flux and carbon storage potential. The results were published in the online 

journal Science. From EurekAlert! On February 13, 2020.

APRIL 2020

Scientists Use AI to Store CO2.

MIT scientists developed a machine learning system that uses artificial 

intelligence (AI) to map underground structures for storing CO2. The research 

team studied “hidden correlations” in components of high-frequency data from 

simulated earthquakes to spot low-frequency waves that would best help map 

the subterranean landscape. The AI learned how to find patterns that could 

be used to infer low frequencies, creating an algorithmic system that has the 

potential to estimate low frequencies and map the underground with greater 

accuracy. From Engadget. March 2020.

New Method Converts CO2 to Methane at Low Temperatures.

Scientists from Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan, developed a new 

method that converts CO2 to valuable chemicals for use in carbon capture 

and utilization. Reported in the journal Chemical Letters, the method has 

the potential to convert CO2 into methane more efficiently and quickly than 

previous methods. According to the research, the method could produce 

methane from atmospheric CO2, possibly enabling an unlimited amount of 

methane production by recycling CO2 released from factories. From Waseda 

University News. February 2020. 

MAY 2020

Researchers Use 3D Printing to Predict Rock Fractures, 

Aid Carbon Storage.

Researchers are 3D-printing minerals to help better predict fracture formation, 

which could be used to improve understanding of carbon storage. Working 

with their university’s Rock Physics Research Group, researchers from Purdue 

University (USA) used a 3D printer to create synthetic rock samples, enabling 

the team to use a computer program to control the quality of the synthetic 

rock. The research, which was supported by DOE’s SC and Sandia National 

Laboratories, was published in the journal Scientific Reports. From Purdue 

News. April 2020.

Long-Living Tropical Trees Play Role in CO2 Storage.

A team of scientists found that a group of fast-growing, long-lived, slow-toreproduce trees in some tropical rainforests play a large role in CO2 storage. 

The study of the trees, which are referred to as “long-lived pioneers,” provides 

insight into the roles of different species of trees in CO2 storage. The research, 

led by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) HalleJena-Leipzig, was published in the journal Science. From ScienceDaily. 

April 2020.

Conversion Test Facility Being Built.

A test facility to convert CO2 from air into solid carbon is being built at Karlsruhe 

Institute of Technology (KIT) in Karlsruhe, Germany. The NEgative Carbon 

diOxide to Carbon (NECOC) research project’s test facility will aim to actively 

reduce CO2 emissions by capturing CO2 from ambient air and, together with 

renewable hydrogen, convert it into methane, which will serve as a “carbon 

carrier.” More information on the process can be found in KIT’s press release. 

From KIT Press Release. March 2020.

Study Explores Oceans’ Ability to Store CO2.

A study found that the world’s oceans have the potential to capture and store 

twice as much CO2 from the atmosphere as previously thought. Scientists from 

the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) came to their conclusions 

by recalculating the section of upper ocean layer that sunlight can penetrate, 

referred to as the euphotic zone. WHOI scientists then used data gathered from 

chlorophyll sensors to help reveal the true edges of the euphotic zone, finding 

that the depths of the boundary vary throughout the world. The study concluded 

that the world’s oceans may have the potential to absorb approximately 

twice as much CO2 each year than original data projected. From New Atlas. 

April 2020.

Research Examines Mature Forests’ Ability to Store CO2.

Researchers from the State University of New York (SUNY) College of 

Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) and Western Sydney University 

found evidence that mature forests have a limited ability to store CO2. ESF’s 

Department of Sustainable Resources Management (USA) collaborated with 

Western Sydney University’s (Australia) Eucalyptus Free Air CO2 Enrichment 

research facility to study a 90-year-old eucalyptus woodland in Western 

Sydney’s Cumberland Plain exposed to elevated CO2 levels. The study found 

that extra CO2 absorbed by the trees was cycled through the soil and returned 

to the atmosphere. Previous models predicted that mature forests would store 

more CO2 by acting as carbon sinks; the findings of this study, published in 

the journal Nature, suggest those sinks may be weaker or absent for mature 

forests. From ScienceDaily. April 2020.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 SCIENCE NEWS

JUNE 2020

Research Examines Water Sustainability During CCS Implementation.

Research conducted by scientists from University of California, Berkeley (USA) 

examined how CCS technology can be sustainably implemented without 

compromising water resources. The study, published in the online journal 

Nature Sustainability, also examined how emerging CCS technologies could 

mitigate the demand current CCS practices place on water consumption. From 

University of California, Berkeley, News Release. May 2020. 

Scientists Develop Artificial Photosynthesis for Carbon Storage.

New developments may allow scientists to recreate and control artificial 

photosynthesis for carbon storage. Using spinach membranes and oil droplets 

filled with enzymes, European researchers were able to mimic natural plant 

pathways and transform CO2 into useful compounds. According to the study, 

published in the journal Science, this artificial photosynthesis may be more 

efficient than its natural counterpart in the future since the researchers are 

able to carefully control how photosynthesis takes place. From Inverse. May 

2020. 

Scientists Develop CO2-Separating Membrane.

Newcastle University (UK) scientists developed a self-assembling silver 

membrane with the potential to capture CO2 emissions and possibly be utilized 

in certain CCS applications. According to the researchers, silver could be an 

effective material for some CCS applications. In the study, published in the 

journal Energy & Environmental Science, the research team found a way to 

gain the benefits of using silver in the CO2 separation process without needing 

a lot of the element itself. From ScienceAlert. May 2020.

JULY 2020

Researchers Develop Technology for CCS Use.

Australian researchers used a metal organic framework (MOF) nanocomposite 

to develop sponge-like technology capable of capturing CO2 from several 

sources. In the study, published in Cell Reports Physical Science, researchers 

from Australia’s Monash University and the Australian federal government’s 

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization designed 

a material that delivered an energy cost 45% below that of commercially 

deployed materials. From Phys.Org. June 2020.

Study Uses Sunlight to Convert CO2.

Researchers at Linköping University in Sweden are attempting to convert CO2

into fuel using energy from sunlight. Published in the journal ACS Nano, the 

results show that the technique has the potential to produce methane, carbon 

monoxide, or formic acid from CO2 and water. The method is at a research 

stage, with a long-term objective of converting solar energy to fuel. From 

Science Magazine. June 2020.

Researchers Study Oceans’ Ability to Store CO2.

Scientists at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (USA) 

studied the variability of the ocean as a carbon sink over the last 30 years. 

According to the findings, published in the journal AGU Advances, decreasing 

global fuel consumption may lead to the ocean absorbing less CO2 in 2020 

than in 2019. The results of the study are expected to enable more accurate 

measurements and projections of how much oceans can offset CO2 emissions. 

From Phys.Org. June 2020.

AUGUST 2020

DOE Lab Demonstrates Novel, Affordable CO2 Removal Method.

Researchers from DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory conducted a study to 

expand technology options for reducing industrial CO2 emissions. Results of 

the study, published in the journal Chem, expand the limited library of options 

for carbon capture membranes. The research was supported by DOE’s Office 

of Science. The researchers will next investigate the mechanisms by which 

fluorinated membranes absorb and transport CO2. From Oak Ridge National 

Laboratory News. July 2020.

Study Identifies Optimal BECCS Facility in UK.

Researchers studied six potential locations for bioenergy with carbon capture 

and storage (BECCS) power plants across the UK, finding the Drax power 

station in North Yorkshire (UK) to be an optimal site. Led by the University of 

Southampton, the study assessed each site based on several criteria, including 

proximity to CO2 storage sites, costs of transportation, potential for geologic 

storage, and flood mitigation. A video explaining the study is available online. 

From University of Southampton News. June 2020.

Researchers Convert CO2 into Formic Acid.

Researchers at Oslo University (Norway) developed a process to convert waste 

CO2 through artificial photosynthesis. The researchers show that under the 

right circumstances, FDH enzymes can “grab” a CO2 molecule and convert it 

into formic acid, a substance used by industry in multiple forms. From Carbon 

Capture Journal. July 2020.

Researchers Study CO2 Removal Ability of Rock Dust.

According to a study published in the journal Nature, spreading rock dust on 

farmland has the potential to remove approximately half of the atmospheric 

CO2 produced by Europe. The “enhanced rock weathering” process involves 

layering crushed rock onto soil; when silicate or carbonate materials in the 

dust dissolve in rain water, CO2 is drawn into the solution to form bicarbonate 

ions, which are eventually washed into the ocean where they form carbonate 

minerals, storing their CO2 indefinitely. From The Washington Post. July 2020.

SEPTEMBER 2020

DOE Researchers Develop CO2 Conversion Method.

Researchers at DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) developed a method 

that converts CO2 and water into ethanol with high energy efficiency and high 

selectivity for the desired final product. The electrocatalytic selectivity of this 

process is more than 90%, which is higher than currently reported. DOE’s 

Office of Science and Office of Basic Energy helped fund the research, which 

was conducted using two DOE Office of Science User Facilities located at ANL: 

the Advanced Photon Source and the Center for Nanoscale Materials. The 

results were published in the journal Nature Energy. From Argonne National 

Laboratory Press Release. August 2020.

Study Shows Amazon Gold Mining’s Impact on CO2 Storage.

A study focusing on the impacts of Amazon gold mining in Guyana (South 

America) found that forests remain barren at the abandoned goldmines three 

to four years after the conclusion of the mining, impacting the rainforest’s 

ability to store CO2. Published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, the research 

shows that the deforestation and recovery rates resulting from depleted 

nitrogen levels have the potential to reduce CO2 storage across Amazonian 

secondary forests. From Mongabay. August 2020.
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 SCIENCE NEWS

Study Provides Insight into CO2 Storage.

Scientists from Scotland and Malaysia conducted a review of past, recent, 

and ongoing developments in CO2 storage in saline formations. The results, 

highlighting the role of saline formations in the storage of CO2, were published 

in the Journal of Natural Gas Science & Engineering. The scientists studied 

the different ways CO2 can be trapped within the pore space of rocks. The 

findings are expected to improve understanding of different CO2 trapping 

methods to maximize the storage potential of a CO2 storage site, enabling 

further development of CCS projects. From Carbon Capture Journal. July 2020.

Scientists Study Trees’ CO2 Storage Ability.

A study conducted at the Harvard Forest Long-Term Ecological Research 

site found that the rate at which CO2 is captured from the atmosphere at 

Harvard Forest nearly doubled from 1992 to 2015. Scientists attribute the 

forest’s increase in CO2 storage capacity to, among other things, the growth 

of 100-year-old oak trees, timber harvest, and a longer growing season. The 

study took CO2 measurements from air, soil, water, and trees to document 

the flow of CO2 through the forest. Results of the study were published in the 

journal Ecological Monographs. From The Harvard Gazette. August 2020.

Researchers Study CO2 Release in Tropical Soils.

According to a study conducted by researchers from the University of 

Edinburgh, tropical soils have the potential to release more CO2 into the 

atmosphere than previously thought. The research team conducted a largescale field experiment in a tropical forest in Panama, finding that soil carbon 

emissions may increase by 55% due to potential climate change. The results, 

published in the journal Nature, showed that from every hectare of tropical 

forest, up to eight extra tons of soil carbon would be released in the form of 

CO2 each year in a potentially warming climate. From Earth.com. August 2020. 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

21

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

PUBLICATIONS

OCTOBER 2019

Reconsidering CCS in the US fossil-fuel fired electricity industry under 

section 45Q tax credits.

The following is the abstract of this article: “CO2 capture and storage (CCS) 

can be an important feature of a decarbonization strategy involving electricity 

generation. According to the recently revised Section 45Q tax credits, said 

credits will be provided for implementing CCS, which is motivating some United 

States (US) electricity generation companies to revisit their business strategies 

for CCS. This paper discusses alternative business models being considered by 

companies for undertaking CCS, including providing a ‘template’ for evaluating 

the cost-effectiveness of CCS with Section 45Q tax credits and storage in 

saline reservoirs. Using stylized illustrative examples, the paper indicates how 

use of Section 45Q tax credits should be expected to change dispatch at an 

electricity generating unit. For situations similar to the examples, the paper 

suggests that Section 45Q tax credits may need to be modified to achieve 

its intended impact. Modifications can include extending the time period of 

tax credit availability beyond the current 12 years. In addition, continued R&D 

investments in CCS and specific support for first-of-a-kind CCS demonstrations 

would be valuable complements for the deployment of the Section 45Q tax 

credit.” Richard A. Esposito, Vello A. Kuuskraa, Charles G. Rossman, and 

Michele M. Corser, Greenhouse Gases Science and Technology. (Subscription 

may be required.)

The North Dakota integrated carbon storage complex feasibility study. 

The following is the abstract of this article: “The Energy & Environmental 

Research Center is investigating the feasibility of safely, permanently, and 

economically storing 50 million tonnes of CO2 in central North Dakota, United 

States, over a 25-year operational period, should a business case for CO2

storage emerge. The study is part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 

National Energy Technology Laboratory CarbonSAFE initiative and addresses 

the technical and nontechnical challenges of commercially deploying a 

CO2 storage project. Evaluation of cores from two stratigraphic test wells 

demonstrate that the Broom Creek Formation (sandstone) is an excellent 

candidate for the geologic storage of CO2 and the overlying Opeche Formation 

a competent cap rock.” Wesley D. Peck, Scott C. Ayash, Ryan J. Klapperich, 

and Charles D. Gorecki, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. 

(Subscription may be required.)

Analysis of carbon tax efficiency in energy industries of selected EU 

countries.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “A carbon tax is one of 

economic policy instruments of environmental protection supposed to 

contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A functional 

carbon tax aims at incorporating costs for elimination of environmental 

harm into the pricing decisions.... the carbon tax is usually imposed on the 

production, distribution or consumption of carbon-content fossil fuels. The 

main aim of the study is to evaluate the carbon tax environmental effectiveness 

in the energy industries of selected EU countries, namely Sweden, Finland, 

Denmark, Ireland and Slovenia. To achieve the principal research objective, 

the multiple panel regression method for the selected variables was used, 

the synergy of other environmental policy tools being taken into account. 

Control variables employed were emission allowance price, household final 

consumption expenditure, corporate investments, solid fuel consumption and 

renewable energy consumption. The analysis results suggest that the carbon 

tax in the energy industry is environmentally efficient, an increased tax rate 

allowing to reduce GHG production, which is statistically significantly affected 

by the consumption of fossil fuels. Based on the estimated partial regression 

coefficient (−0.01158), raising the carbon tax by one euro per tonne can 

cut annual per capita emissions by 11.58 kg.” Miroslav Hájek, Jarmila 

Zimmermannová, Karel Helman, and Ladislav Rozenský, Energy Policy. 

(Subscription may be required.)

Understanding gas-phase breakout with high H2 content in CCS 

pipeline gathering networks.

The following is the abstract of this article: “An accurate understanding of 

the behaviour of impure carbon dioxide (CO2) during pipeline transport stage 

is required for commercial scale deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage 

(CCS) networks. Impurities in the CO2 stream modify phase behaviour and 

change the thermophysical and transport properties of the stream. CO2

streams containing hydrogen (H2) are a particular challenge due to the unique 

physical properties of H2. In a CCS gathering network where CO2 is sourced 

from processes such as pre-combustion capture or hydrogen production, H2

with a concentration of 2% mol can be expected to be present in the mixture. 

This paper describes foreseeable operating scenarios where gas breakout 

in single-phase CCS gathering networks might occur, leading to pockets of 

gas with high H2 concentration. Multiphase flow modelling of a CCS gathering 

network with impure CO2 containing H2 has been performed, demonstrating 

these operating scenarios and providing a basis for design. The H2 content of 

the gas breakout is shown to be >20% mol when the conditions are close to 

bubble point. High concentrations of H2 due to gas breakout must be considered 

as part of a single-phase CCS gathering network design, whenever H2 is 

present. This paper provides practical guidelines for understanding, quantifying 

and, managing the worst design cases for H2 exposure due to gas breakout. 

Specific recommendations for what must be included in the project design 

basis are presented. Potential mitigating factors and engineering measures 

that can be taken to manage high H2 concentration in a CCS system are also 

discussed.” Matthew Healey, Ketan Mistry, Thomas Jones, and Eduardo 

Luna-Ortiz, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription 

may be required.)

Bioenergy and full carbon dioxide sinking in sugarcane-biorefinery 

with post-combustion capture and storage: Techno-economic 

feasibility.

The following is the abstract of this article: “Sugarcane plantations promote 

impressive drainage of atmospheric carbon dioxide reaching 781 t/h for a 

1000 t/h sugarcane-biorefinery. For first-generation bioethanol sugarcanebiorefineries, only 10% of sugarcane carbon dioxide equivalent leaves as 

hydrous-ethanol, while 90% return to atmosphere through bagasse-fired 

power cogeneration in steam-Rankine cycles. Thus, a sugarcane-biorefinery 

exports two bioenergy flows – electricity and hydrous-ethanol – and its 

impressive Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage potential is wasted. Capture 

of fermentation carbon dioxide merely means 5% of Bioenergy Carbon Capture 

and Storage efficiency. This work assesses a new sugarcane-biorefinery 

concept dramatically raising the Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage 

efficiency. With fermentation carbon dioxide already captured, it is advocated 

to implement 90% post-combustion capture of flue-gas carbon dioxide. Then, 

captured carbon dioxide is compressed and traded as Enhanced Oil Recovery 

agent transported to deep-water offshore oil fields via high-pressure pipelines 

counting on topographic gravitational effects to lower compression power. 

Aggregating pipeline/compression investment to the biorefinery, it is shown 

that such new Plantation-Biorefinery-Post-Combustion-Pipeline-Oil-Recovery 

enterprise is technically feasible for 5.22 MtCO2/y of Bioenergy Carbon Capture 

and Storage capacity and is economically feasible under certain conditions: (i) 

idle pipeline capacity rental to fossil carbon emitters at 10–20 USD/tCO2; (ii) 

recovered oil revenues traded at 1–2 bbl/tCO2 and 50–80 USD/bbl; (iii) carbontaxation at 40–80 USD/tCO2; and (iv) carbon Cap-and-Trade at 30–70 USD/

tCO2. Under such conditions the Plantation-Biorefinery-Post-CombustionPipeline-Oil-Recovery can attain 7 MMMUSD net value and 6 years paybacktime.” Hudson Bolsoni Carminati, Raquel de Freitas D. Milão, José Luiz de 

Medeiros, and Ofélia de Queiroz F. Araújo, Applied Energy. (Subscription may 

be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

22

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

Feasibility of carbon dioxide storage in post-burn underground coal 

gasification cavities.

The following is the abstract of this article: “Supplementary to the prospect of 

carbon storage in the geological formations for carbon emission mitigation, the 

deep post-burn underground coal gasification (UCG) cavities are proposed to 

be good venues for carbon dioxide storage, albeit without substantial validation 

in any form. Using a modelling methodology, this paper intends to bridge that 

knowledge gap by exploring the feasibility of storing CO2 in the post-UCG 

venues. A 3D post-burn UCG cavity model was constructed taking into account 

of the various char walls and rubble floor. To better utilize the subsurface 

space, the migration of CO2 in a supercritical state was modelled for a span 

of 10,000 days. The modelling results show that it is possible to inject CO2

into UCG cavities for storage. Insight was achieved concerning the transport 

pattern of CO2 plume in the UCG cavity under various effects, e.g. CO2 buoyant 

flow, diffusion and adsorption are coupling behaviours, and coal adsorption and 

swelling have a complex effect on CO2 transport.” Liangliang Jiang, Zhangxin 

Chen, and S.M. Farouq Ali, Applied Energy. (Subscription may be required.)

Profiting from CCS innovations: A study to measure potential value 

creation from CCS research and development.

The following is the abstract of this article: “Globally, large private and public 

funds are invested into CO2 capture and storage (CCS) research to provide 

the knowledge and technology required to mitigate CO2 emissions below a 

sustainable level. A pertinent question to ask is whether this is the best way 

of spending limited resources. This paper presents a study aiming to quantify 

the potential economic gains from selected CCS innovations created in the 

international research centre BIGCCS and its successor NCCS. Development of 

CCS technology is currently driven by technology push and the lack of a market 

makes it hard to predict future potentials for increased revenue. Consequently, 

the study investigates potential cost reductions from implementing the 

innovations in full-scale industry projects based on qualified assumptions. 

The results show that even with limited deployment of CCS the potential cost 

savings from implementation of the innovations by far exceed the research 

investment. Additional value not considered is in this work is expected from 

commercialisation of the technologies for the technology providers, improved 

competitive edge for providers of CO2 free products and enhanced safety for 

people, equipment and environment. By developing illustrative examples from 

technology innovations, the study aims to contribute to a broader public CCS 

debate addressing also potential gains and commercial opportunities in addition 

to the current focus on costs and safety.” Sigmund Ø. Størset, Grethe Tangen, 

David Berstad, Peder Eliasson, Karl Anders Hoff, Øyvind Langørgen, Svend 

Tollak Munkejord, Simon Roussanaly, and Malin Torsæter, International 

Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

Game analysis of carbon emission verification: A case study from 

Shenzhen’s cap-and-trade system in China.

The following is the abstract of this article: “Carbon emission verification is one 

of the key factors required for proper implementation of a cap-and-trade (C&T) 

system. However, to obtain more revenue, emission generating companies 

(GCs) may collude with third-party verifiers (3 PVs) and conceal real carbon 

emission data. Based on actual practice of Shenzhen’s C&T system, a threeplayer game model has been devised in this paper to analyze the behaviors 

among GCs, 3 PVs and government. Given the government’s current piecewise 

linear re-verification policy, the optimal reported carbon intensity for GCs 

has been provided. [The authors’] research reveals that if the actual carbon 

intensity is larger than historical carbon intensity GCs may report less carbon 

intensity and conceal actual carbon emission. To deal with this issue, a new 

exponential re-verification policy is proposed. Based on authentic data from 

Shenzhen’s C&T system, the experimental results show that the government 

should devote more attention to GCs with a decreasing industrial product output 

value-added (IVA) than to those with high carbon emissions when selecting 

GCs for re-verification. [The authors’] experiments also illustrate that the new 

policy outperforms the current one on both total concealed amount of carbon 

emission and total re-verification cost if the initial re-verification probability is 

set within a specific range.” Yanchun Pan, Wen Yang, Nan Ma, Zhimin Chen, 

Ming Zhou, and Yi Xiong, Energy Policy. (Subscription may be required.)

Financing BECCS in developing countries.

The following is from the Introduction of this document: “BECCS is a promising 

class of technologies for carbon dioxide (CO2) removal and consists of the 

capture and permanent geological storage of CO2 stemming from biomass 

transformation or combustion. Several industrial sectors can implement this 

technology, including the biofuel sector which is predominantly made up of 

bioethanol production. Bioethanol is one of the few renewable alternatives to 

oil and gas-based liquid fuel, with which it can be easily blended to be used 

as a transportation fuel. As countries seek to decarbonise transport, demand 

for bioethanol is set to grow globally. By integrating CCS into the production 

process for bioethanol, negative emissions can be created. It is forecast that 

a significant proportion of the world’s bioethanol production will come from 

developing countries. This paper focuses on how the production of bioethanol 

with CCS can be supported by climate finance providers, and the pivotal role 

Brazil can play in facilitating this process.”

Lessons and Perceptions: Adopting a Commercial Approach to CCS 

Liability.

The following is a description of this document: “Liability has long been raised 

as a significant barrier to the wide scale deployment of carbon capture and 

storage (CCS). Despite regulatory developments, the topic of liability continues 

to be considered by some CCS project developers, policy-makers and regulators 

as a critical issue and potential ‘show-stopper’ for the technology’s deployment. 

This report, through policy and regulatory analysis as well as interviews with 

policy makers, regulators, lawyers, project proponents and representative 

from the insurance sector, seeks to challenge these views and make the case 

for a more commercially-minded view of liability. The report’s findings reveal 

that many of the liabilities borne under CCS-specific models are both familiar 

and eminently manageable. Furthermore, the report demonstrates proposed 

solutions and examples available in addressing liability for those seeking to 

invest in or operate CCS projects. The report also examines the meaning of 

liability throughout the CCS lifecycle and the unique challenges presented by 

greenhouse emissions/climate liabilities. The critical role of government and the 

private sector in allocating and managing risks across the CCS project lifecycle, 

as well as the essential requirement for further engagement of the insurance 

sector to assist operators manage liabilities are also topics addressed through 

this timely report. The report will be of particular interest to government policy 

makers, regulatory bodies, CCS project proponents, investors and those in the 

insurance sector wishing to further understand the topic of liability, the reasons 

why it is perceived as a barrier to CCS deployment and gain insights into how 

these barriers have been - and may continue to be - managed and overcome.” 

NOVEMBER 2019

Thermo-hydrological numerical evaluation of carbon dioxide injection 

efficiency for its geologic storage using a coupled reservoir-well 

simulation scheme.

The following is the abstract of this article: “A coupled reservoir-well simulation 

scheme is established to analyze quantitatively multi-phase fluid flow and heat 

transport due to carbon dioxide (CO2) injection in a reservoir rock-injection 

well system and to evaluate rigorously the CO2 injection efficiency in terms of 

the CO2 injection rate and injectivity. Two different cases of the CO2 injection 

pressure and temperature at the well head are then simulated using the coupled 

reservoir-well simulation scheme within a multi-phase thermo-hydrological 

numerical model. The results of the numerical simulations show that the fluid 

pressure and temperature and the CO2 injection rate and injectivity in the 

reservoir rock-injection well system can be quantitatively evaluated using the 

coupled reservoir-well simulation scheme. The fluid pressure and temperature 

in the injection well including the well head and bottom can also be simply 

predicted with assumptions of the hydrostatic fluid pressure transition and the 

adiabatic fluid temperature transition from the well head to the well bottom 

using the thermodynamic equation of state (EOS) data of CO2. In addition, the 

CO2 injection rate and injectivity have very close relationships with the fluid 

pressure and temperature at the well bottom, respectively, which determine 

the fluid pressure difference between the injection well bottom and the farfield reservoir rock and the kinematic viscosity of CO2 at the well bottom. The 
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October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

CO2 injection rate increases almost linearly with the fluid pressure difference, 

whereas the CO2 injectivity varies unsystematically with it. Instead, the CO2

injectivity has an excellent linear relationship with the reciprocal of the 

kinematic viscosity (i.e., kinematic fluidity) of CO2. These results can be utilized 

as practical guidelines to determine optimal injection operation schemes for 

sustainable, safe, and efficient geologic storage of CO2.” Jung-Hwi Kihm, JaiYong Park, Sungho Lee, Jun-Mo Kim, and Byoung-Woo Yum, International 

Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

The Role of Capillary Hysteresis and Pore-Scale Heterogeneity in 

Limiting the Migration of Buoyant Immiscible Fluids in Porous Media.

The following is the abstract of this article: “Understanding the main 

mechanisms affecting long-term migration and redistribution of injected CO2

in geological carbon storage is needed for developing predictive models to 

assess environmental risks and designing monitoring schemes. Preparation 

of a postinjection site care plan is required for CO2 injection wells, including 

monitoring of pressure changes and injected CO2 plume. Knowledge gaps 

exist regarding assessment of postinjection monitoring timeframes for the 

CO2 plume because the processes driving long-term CO2 plume migration and 

trapping are not fully understood. In the postinjection stage of geological carbon 

storage, redistribution of CO2 occurs mainly due to buoyancy and capillary 

forces. This work presents experimental and modeling studies to investigate 

processes contributing to postinjection plume distribution and stabilization. 

[The authors] conducted a flow cell experiments (0.5 m × 0.05 m × 0.01 

m) with two immiscible fluid phases in a glass bead porous medium to study 

postinjection plume behavior. [The authors] employed a hysteretic macroscopic 

two-phase flow model to interpret the experimental results and to understand 

main processes leading to plume stabilization. [The authors’] findings show 

that capillary pressure hysteresis explains the experimentally observed plume 

shape and redistribution at early postinjection stages; however, the long-term 

plume migration and eventual plume stabilization can only be represented 

when in addition microscale heterogeneity is accounted for. Results also show 

that plume stabilization can be extremely slow and that the migration of the 

plume front can occur through multiple intermittent bursts over long times. 

Further studies are needed to understand implications of the results for more 

realistic porous media and large-scale storage reservoirs.” Abdullah Cihan, 

Shibo Wang, Tetsu K. Tokunaga, and Jens T. Birkholzer, Water Resources 

Research. (Subscription may be required.) 

Reframing the Value Case for Carbon Capture and Storage.

The following is the abstract of this article: “In meeting long term climate 

ambitions at regional and national levels, there is a need to retain and 

ultimately grow high value jobs and production activity across the economy. 

This is reflected in the ‘Just Transition’ element of the 2015 Paris Agreement 

and will always be a preferable outcome to job offshoring/GDP loss and not 

meeting targets in the short and long term (UNFCCC, 2015, p4). The inevitable 

consideration of how best to value alternative approaches to deliver against 

these ambitions requires a broadening of focus from project cost metrics to a 

political economy and ultimately wider societal perspective. A key conclusion 

of the current study is that the most useful and easily communicated way 

of measuring a broader economic impact of Carbon Capture, Utilisation and 

Storage (CCUS) investments and associated government support is in terms 

of the expenditures required to sustain existing and/or create new jobs and/

or other outcomes valued by society. Such a focus is likely to be particularly 

important in the UK context of the 2019 HM Treasury Spending Review, where 

all investment projects are likely to be judged on the basis of contributing 

to prosperity going forward and value delivered per pound spent. This is an 

important context for the CCUS Delivery and Investment Frameworks planned 

for 2019 in the UK Government’s CCUS Action Plan Economic multiplier 

methods enable a transparent and rigorous initial assessment of how many 

direct, indirect and induced supply chain jobs may be sustained and/or created 

where a solution like CCUS is introduced to allow industries to decarbonise and 

continue to grow in key regional locations.” Karen Turner, Oluwafisayo Alabi, 

Ragne Low, and Julia Race, University of Strathclyde’s Centre for Energy 

Policy. (Subscription may be required.)

Targeted carbon tax reforms.

The following is the abstract of this article: “In the presence of intersectoral 

linkages, sector-specific carbon tax changes can have complex general 

equilibrium effects. In particular, a carbon tax on the emissions of a sector 

can lead to an increase in aggregate emissions. [The authors] analytically 

characterise how incremental taxes on the emissions of any set of sectors 

affect aggregate emissions. [The authors] show that carbon tax reforms that 

target sectors based on their position in the production network can achieve 

a greater reduction in aggregate emissions than reforms that target sectors 

based on their direct emissions alone. [The authors] illustrate the effects of 

carbon tax reforms by calibrating [the authors’] intersectoral network model to 

the economies of two countries.” Maia King, Bassel Tarbush, and Alexander 

Teytelboym, European Economic Review. (Subscription may be required.)

Prediction of the lifespan of cement at a specific depth based on 

the coupling of geomechanical and geochemical processes for CO2

storage.

The following is the abstract of this article: “The injection of carbon dioxide 

(CO2) captured from combustion-based processes into underground formations 

is one of a number of plausible methods to reduce its release into the 

atmosphere and consequential greenhouse gas warming. Once the gas has 

been captured efficiently and effectively, depleted oil and gas reservoirs are 

seen as high potential candidates for carbon storage projects. However, legacy 

issues associated with a high number of oil and gas wells abandoned during 

the last few decades put the carbon capture and storage projects (CCS) at risk. 

These include any defects within the cement surrounding the well casing or for 

capping an abandoned well that can become unwanted CO2 leakage pathways. 

To predict the lifespan of these cements due to exposure to CO2-bearing fluids 

at the conditions found underground, the geochemical processes need to be 

coupled with the geomechanical changes within the cement matrix. In a viable 

CCS project for sequestering CO2, the cement matrix should be capable of 

withstanding acidic environments formed by dissolution of CO2 in brine for 

more than ten thousand years. This work aims at providing a framework 

to predict the behaviour of cement due to CO2 exposure under reservoir 

conditions. The results show that the chemical reactions and geomechanical 

changes within the cement matrix can result either in its radial cracking or 

radial compaction. Both of these behaviours are investigated as possible 

phenomena which may affect the CO2 leakage, and therefore the viability of 

the site for long term carbon storage.” Mohammadreza Bagheri, Seyed M. 

Shariatipour, and Eshmaiel Ganjian, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas 

Control. (Subscription may be required.)

SimCCS: An open-source tool for optimizing CO2 capture, transport, 

and storage infrastructure.

The following is the abstract of this article: “Commercial-scale carbon capture 

and storage (CCS) technology will involve deploying infrastructure on a 

massive and costly scale. This effort will require careful and comprehensive 

planning to ensure that capture locations, storage sites, and the dedicated 

CO2 distribution pipelines are selected in a robust and cost-effective manner. 

Introduced in 2009, SimCCS is an optimization model for integrated system 

design that enables researchers, stakeholders, and policy makers to design 

CCS infrastructure networks. SimCCS2.0 is a complete, ground-up redesign 

that is now a portable software package, useable and shareable by the CCS 

research, industrial, policy, and public communities. SimCCS2.0 integrates 

multiple new capabilities including a refined optimization model, novel 

candidate network generation techniques, and optional integration with highperformance computing platforms. Accessing user-provided CO2 source, sink, 

and transportation data, SimCCS2.0 creates candidate transportation routes and 

formalizes an optimization problem that determines the most cost-effective 

CCS system design. This optimization problem is then solved either through 

a high-performance computing interface, or through third-party software on a 

local desktop computing platform. Finally, SimCCS2.0 employs an open-access 

geographic information system framework to enable analysis and visualization 

capabilities. SimCCS2.0 is written in Java and is publicly available via GitHub 

to encourage collaboration, modification, and community development.” 

Richard S. Middleton, Sean P. Yaw, Brendan A. Hoover, and Kevin M. Ellett, 

Environmental Modelling & Software. (Subscription may be required.)
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October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

A novel analysis of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology 

adoption: An evolutionary game model between stakeholders.

The following is the abstract of this article: “Carbon capture and storage 

(CCS) plays a vital role in achieving carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reduction 

for the power sector. It is meaningful to explore how to promote widespread 

adoption of CCS technology by power plants more smoothly. Distinguished 

from previous literature, this paper firstly established a government-enterprise 

evolutionary game framework to study issues of CCS adoption at the micro 

level. By expounding the conflict of interests on CCS adoption between 

governments and coal-fired power plants in China, an evolutionary game 

model was built to analyze the evolutionary stability and discuss the systematic 

dynamic evolutionary processes. Based on the simulation method, the 

theoretical consequences were verified, and the effects of critical parameters 

on the evolution trajectories were analyzed. This study found that: (i) for 

impelling the system to tend towards the optimal evolutionary stable strategy 

(ESS), it was essential to strengthen governmental supervision and improve the 

enthusiasm of power plants to adopt CCS technology. (ii) the initial willingness 

of stakeholders would affect the evolutionary trajectories. (iii) it was significant 

to increase governments’ political achievements and reduce its supervisory 

cost, improve policy support for power enterprises deploying CCS and its lowcarbon power generation revenue, and decrease their CCS adoption cost.” 

Tian Zhao and Zhixin Liu, Energy. (Subscription may be required.)

Carbon leakage from geological storage sites: Implications for carbon 

trading.

The following is the abstract of this article: “A number of studies show that 

large-scale deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is necessary 

to limit the increase in global average temperature to less than 2°C by 2100. 

However, some experts and citizens worry about the integrity of carbon dioxide 

storage sites due to the possibility of future leakage. [The authors] introduce 

a two-period model where two emission mitigation technologies are available 

to society in the first period: CCS, with a risk of carbon dioxide leakage in the 

second period, and a riskless mitigation alternative, such as renewable energy. 

[The authors] first solve the model assuming that society does not know what 

the future rate of leakage will be. [The authors] then solve the model assuming 

that society will eventually learn the actual leakage rate. [The authors] find that, 

in a trading market in period one, reductions of CO2 emissions through CCS 

should generate a less than proportional amount of CO2 allowances. Estimates 

from simulations, using a coarse range of parameters, indicate that the 

discount factor of CCS allowances lies in the range (0.72, 1). Site-specific data 

is required to determine site-specific risks of leakage and discount factors.” 

Jorge H. García and Asbjørn Torvanger, Energy Policy. (Subscription may be 

required.)

The importance of lithofacies control on fluid migration in 

heterogeneous aeolian formations for geological CO2 storage: 

Lessons from observational evidence and modelling of bleached 

palaeoreservoirs at Salt Wash Graben, Utah.

The following is the abstract of this article: “Exhumed bleached 

palaeoreservoirs provide a means of understanding fluid flow processes 

in geological media because the former movement of fluids is preserved 

as visible geochemical changes (grey bleaching of continental red-beds). 

The bleached palaeoreservoirs of the Jurassic Entrada Sandstone occur in 

a region (Utah) where there are high fluxes of naturally-occurring CO2 and 

form outcrop analogues for processes related to geological storage of CO2. 

In this paper a bleached palaeoreservoir now exposed at outcrop is used to 

test the importance of geological heterogeneity on fluid flow. The bleached 

palaeoreservoir is developed in ‘wet aeolian’ lithofacies composed of 

alternating layers of sandstone and cemented muddy sandstone that range 

across three or more orders of magnitude in permeability. Despite these 

permeability contrasts the bleaching shows a remarkably uniform distribution 

within the palaeoreservoir that crosses lithofacies boundaries. Evidence from 

bleaching therefore suggests that geological heterogeneity within the range 

1–103

 millidarcies should not greatly impede the relatively uniform distribution 

of low-viscosity CO2 charged fluids throughout a reservoir: a conclusion 

that has been substantiated here by flow modelling. Residence time is an 

important factor and where flows are transient the distribution of bleaching 

and modelling shows that flows are confined to high-permeability lithofacies.” 

Andrew J. Newell, Azadeh Pourmalek, Andrew S. Butcher, and Seyed M. 

Shariatipour, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription 

may be required.)

Technologies and practice of CO2 flooding and sequestration in China.

The following is the abstract of this article: “The latest advancement of CO2

flooding and sequestration theory and technology in China is systematically 

described, and the future development direction is put forward. Based on 

the geological characteristics of continental reservoirs, five theories and key 

technologies have been developed: (1) Enriched the understandings about 

the mass transfer characteristics of components between CO2 and crude 

oil in continental reservoirs, micro-flooding mechanism and sequestration 

mechanism of different geological bodies. (2) Established the design method of 

reservoir engineering parameters, injection-production control technology and 

development effect evaluation technology of CO2 flooding, etc. (3) Developed 

a series of production engineering technologies such as separated layer 

CO2 injection technology, high efficiency lifting technology, on-line wellbore 

corrosion monitoring and protection technology. (4) Innovated a series of 

surface engineering technology including CO2 capture technology, pipeline CO2

transportation, CO2 surface injection, and production gas circulation injection, 

etc. (5) Formed a series of supporting technologies including monitoring, and 

safety and environmental protection evaluation of CO2 flooding reservoir. On 

this basis, the technological development directions in the future have been put 

forward: (1) Breakthrough in low-cost CO2 capture technology to provide cheap 

CO2 gas source; (2) Improve the miscibility technology between CO2 and crude 

oil to enhance oil displacement efficiency; (3) Improve CO2 sweeping volume; 

(4) Develop more effective lifting tools and technologies; (5) Strengthen the 

research of basic theory and key technology of CO2 storage monitoring. CO2

flooding and sequestration in the Jilin Oilfield shows that this technology has 

broad application prospects in China.” Yongle Hu, Mingqiang Hao, Guoli Chen, 

Ruiyan Sun, and Shi Li, Petroleum Exploration and Development. (Subscription 

may be required.) 

CarbonTech: A Primer on Carbon Capture, Conversion, Utilization 

and Storage Technologies.

The following is from the “Purpose of the Study” of this CMC Research 

Institutes and Canadian Business for Social Responsibility document: “Carbon 

Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) technologies can play a significant 

role in meeting national and international greenhouse gas (GHG) emission 

reduction targets. With research, development and scale-up infrastructure in 

place, along with many decades of experience in developing full-scale CCUS 

facilities, Canada has an opportunity to become a global leader and exporter 

of CCUS knowledge and technology. This report seeks to provide an overview 

of the risks and opportunities for development, testing, implementation, and 

export of CCUS in Canada. By identifying barriers to national growth of CCUS, 

stakeholders can determine effective ways to build a national and international 

market for CCUS. This report is intended to serve as a primer, and will: [1] 

Provide an overview of the CCUS marketplace and recent CCUS technology 

developments (both in Canada and globally). [2] Identify who is developing 

innovative, commercially viable CCUS technology. [3] Highlight the challenges 

and opportunities to convert industrial CO2 emissions into feedstock for valueadded products.”

Industrial Transformation 2050: Pathways to Net-Zero Emission 

from EU Heavy Industry.

The following is from the Executive Summary of this document: “This study 

explores multiple ways to achieve net-zero emissions from EU steel, plastics, 

ammonia and cement production while keeping that production in the EU. It 

quantifies the potential impact of different solutions and finds that emissions 

from those industries can be reduced to net zero by 2050, confirming the 

findings of the pathways presented in the Commission’s A Clean Planet for 

All. Many new solutions are emerging, thanks to a more circular economy 

with greater materials efficiency and extensive recycling of plastics and steel, 

as well as innovative industrial processes and carbon capture and storage. 
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Many different industrial strategies and pathways can be combined to achieve 

net-zero emissions. The analysis finds that the impact on end-user/consumer 

costs will be less than 1% regardless of the path pursued – but all pathways 

require new production processes that are considerably costlier to industry, 

as well as significant near-term capital investment equivalent to a 25–60% 

increase on today’s rates. Keeping EU companies competitive as they pursue 

deep cuts to emissions will thus require a new net-zero CO2 industrial strategy 

and policy agenda. There is a need to accelerate innovation, enable early 

investment, support costlier low-CO2 production, overcome barriers to circular 

economy solutions, and ensure that companies can access the large amounts 

of clean electricity and other new inputs and infrastructure they need. Time is 

short, with 2050 only one investment cycle away, and any further delays will 

hugely complicate the transition. As the EU ponders its industrial future, this 

transformation should be a clear priority.”

DECEMBER 2019

Maturing global CO2 storage resources on offshore continental 

margins to achieve 2DS emissions reductions.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Most studies on CO2 emissions 

reduction strategies that address the ‘two-degree scenario’ (2DS) recognize a 

significant role for CCS. For CCS to be effective, it must be deployed globally 

on both existing and emerging energy systems. For nations with large-scale 

emissions, offshore geologic CO2 storage provides an attractive and efficient 

long-term strategy. While some nations are already developing CCS projects 

using offshore CO2 storage resources, most geographic regions have yet to 

begin. This paper demonstrates the geologic significance of global continental 

margins for providing broadly-equitable, geographically-relevant, and highquality CO2 storage resources. [The authors] then use principles of porespace utilization and subsurface pressure constraints together with analogs 

of historic industry well deployment rates to demonstrate how the required 

storage capacity can be developed as a function of time and technical maturity 

to enable the global deployment of offshore storage for facilitating 2DS. [The 

authors’] analysis indicates that 10–14 thousand CO2 injection wells will be 

needed globally by 2050 to achieve this goal.” P. S. Ringrose and T. A. Meckel,

Scientific Reports. (Subscription may be required.)

Enhanced safety of geologic CO2 storage with nanoparticles.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Some methods have been 

developed to detect leakage of CO2 from its desired storage domain, but that 

is not sufficient to prevent and mitigate a leak. Two techniques have been 

proposed to prevent the migration of buoyant CO2 from the storage domain by 

expediting mixing of CO2 with the brine and mitigate risk of its leakage risk. 

These two methods are injection of CO2 pre-mixed with brine, and injection 

of CO2 with nanoparticles (NPs). The former has been studied to some extent, 

however, understanding of the latter is very limited. Unlike the application of 

NPs in hydrocarbon recovery, its use to enhance safety of CO2 storage is a 

fairly unexplored topic that can have important benefits for the safety of the 

storage process. Also, the use of NPs for subsurface application in general 

is compromised for its cost. [The authors] investigate how NPs produced 

from low-level nuclear waste can be added with injected CO2 to enhance the 

mixing of CO2 with brine, which can mitigate leakage risk of CO2. [The authors] 

numerically investigate the effect of adding NPs from nuclear waste with the 

CO2 and show that it enhances the mixing of CO2 with in-situ brine in saline 

aquifers that mitigates the risk related to buoyancy and high mobility of CO2. 

Additionally, [the authors] examine the effect of reservoir heterogeneity on 

mixing of CO2 in reservoir brine when it is injected with NPs. The results show 

that: (i) addition of NPs to CO2 leads to higher mixing, (ii) the discrete shape 

of CO2 concentration in brine tends to diffuse and become smooth as the 

heterogeneity of the medium increases, and (iii) the impact of heterogeneity 

is more pronounced than the fraction of NPs on mixing.” Harpreet Singh and 

Akand Islam, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer. (Subscription 

may be required.)

Green tax reforms with promotion of renewable energy sources 

and carbon capture and sequestration: Comparison of different 

alternatives.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The need to decarbonize 

economic production processes is undeniable and has been considered by most 

countries worldwide. Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and Carbon Capture 

and Sequestration (CCS) technologies appear among the most promising 

routes to the decarbonization process. [The authors] propose an equilibrium 

model where final-goods production uses labor and energy, and energy is 

generated using non-polluting RES and polluting fossil fuels. The government 

implements a Green Tax Reform (GTR), where it imposes a tax on emissions and 

uses revenues to finance subsidies to RES and support to CCS technologies. 

[The authors] test how results change according to the priority given to RES 

or to CCS support. [The authors’] results show that prioritizing RES support 

achieves better economic results and potentially also better environmental 

results. Overall, [the authors’] empirical simulation demonstrates that resource 

substitution has a stronger benefit than decarbonizing fossil fuels.” Susana 

Silva, Isabel Soares, and Carlos Pinho, Energy Reports. (Subscription may 

be required.)

Is it worth to invest? -An evaluation of CTL-CCS project in China based 

on real options.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “China’s consumption of liquid 

fuels as well as the dependence on foreign oil has increased considerably in 

recent years. Alternative liquid fuel technologies such as coal to liquid (CTL) are 

attracting attentions. However, facing uncertainties of energy price and carbon 

price as well as policy fluctuations and potential CO2 utilizations, evaluations 

of CTL project becomes a complex question. In this context, [the authors] 

develop a sequential investment real options decision model of a typical CTLCCS project in China with the flexibility in investment timing and operation. As 

an application, the model is used to evaluate Shenhua direct coal liquefaction 

(DCL) project with CCS retrofits option. Four scenarios and sensitivities of key 

parameters are discussed. The results show that under current market and 

policy conditions the CTL project is economically infeasible but the option to 

delay is of huge value. A high level of carbon price or carbon tax is necessary 

to make the CCS retrofit economically feasible despite relatively lower capture 

costs, while the captured CO2 could be better utilized for Enhanced Oil 

Recovery (EOR). [The authors] suggest the government to exempt fuel tax for 

enhancing the economic viability of CTL companies, especially in the current 

condition of low oil price.” Xing Yao, Ying Fan, Yuan Xu, Xian Zhang, Lei Zhu, 

and Lianyong Feng, Energy. (Subscription may be required.)

Reaction of pseudowollastonite with carbonate-bearing fluids: 

Implications for CO2 mineral sequestration.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The kinetics of silicate 

carbonation in aqueous solutions are typically sluggish, especially at neutral 

to alkaline conditions. This hampers the complete understanding of the 

mechanisms and parameters that control mineral carbonation during carbon 

capture and storage (CCS). Here [the authors] study the hydrothermal 

dissolution and carbonation of pseudowollastonite (psw; α-CaSiO3), one of the 

most reactive silicates known, under a range of geochemical conditions ranging 

from acidic to strongly alkaline pH, presence/absence of different background 

alkali metal ions and carbonate sources (K2CO3 and Na2CO3, pH ~13, or 

NaHCO3 and KHCO3, pH ~9). [The authors] show that in addition to amorphous 

silica precipitation, the formation of secondary Na+Ca- or K+Ca-silicates in the 

presence of Na+ and K+ background ions, respectively, fosters the progress of 

psw carbonation. However, the formation of Ca-containing secondary crystalline 

silicates and Ca-containing amorphous silica is shown to be a strong handicap 

for a fully effective carbonation. In all cases a higher conversion into CaCO3 (up 

to ~70 mol%) is achieved when using bicarbonate salts (i.e., lower initial pH). 

By using a reactor with a pressurized CO2-solution, with and without Na+ or K+ 

background ions, rapid and nearly complete conversion of psw with a CaCO3 

yield ~92 mol% is achieved because, in addition to the initial low pH (~3.7) that 

favored α-CaSiO3 dissolution, abundant Ca-free non-passivating amorphous 

silica formed along with calcite. These results imply that the presence (e.g., 

use of sea water during CO2 injection or mixing with saline formation solutions) 
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October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

or the release of different alkali metal ions (e.g., after feldspar and/or basaltic 

glass dissolution) in combination with a reaction-induced pH increase during 

in situ CCS scenarios may strongly limit carbonation due to the capture of 

alkaline-earth metals in secondary silicates and a reduction in reaction rates. 

In turn, [the authors’] results show that the high conversion achieved in 

pure CO2-aqueous systems, while relevant for ex situ CCS, may not reflect 

the actual conversion in multicomponent natural systems following reactive 

transport during in situ CCS. Moreover, the precipitation of secondary silicate 

and calcium carbonate phases have a direct cementing effect, which could be 

detrimental for in situ CCS, as it would likely reduce host rock permeability, 

but would be relevant and beneficial for the setting of novel CaSiO3-based 

non-hydraulic cements with reduced CO2 footprint.” Luis Monasterio-Guillot, 

Fulvio Di Lorenzo, Encarnacion Ruiz-Agudo, and Carlos Rodriguez-Navarro,

Chemical Geology. (Subscription may be required.)

Offshore power generation with carbon capture and storage to 

decarbonise mainland electricity and offshore oil and gas installations: 

A techno-economic analysis.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “This study investigates the 

techno-economic potential of offshore power generation from natural gas with 

carbon capture and storage to reduce the climate impact of mainland electricity 

and the offshore oil and gas industry. This potential is assessed through 

techno-economic assessments over two relevant cases (‘floating’ and ‘shallow 

water’ cases) including comparison with relevant reference concepts. In the 

base case evaluation, the offshore power plant concept toward decarbonising 

mainland electricity results in high costs (178 and 258 $/MWh respectively 

for the floating and shallow water cases) compared to a reference onshore 

power plant with carbon capture and storage (around 95 $/MWh). However, a 

stronger potential is identified for the concept toward decarbonising offshore 

oil and gas platforms as the concept results in costs more comparable with the 

reference electrification concept (137 compared to 133 $/MWh in the floating 

case and 207 compared to 166 $/MWh in the shallow water case). Although 

the base cases show a limited potential for the offshore concept, the results 

show that with technological improvements (advanced capture technology, 

reuse of infrastructure...) and more suited case characteristics (development

based on associated gas...), the offshore concept offers a significant potential 

for cost-efficiently decarbonising the offshore oil and gas industry, while a more 

moderate potential is foreseen for the decarbonisation of mainland electricity.” 

S. Roussanaly, A. Aasen, R. Anantharaman, B. Danielsen, J. Jakobsen, L. 

Heme-De-Lacotte, G. Neji, A. Sødal, P.E. Wahl, T.K. Vrana, and R. Dreux,

Applied Energy. (Subscription may be required.)

Pressure management via brine extraction in geological CO2 storage: 

Adaptive optimization strategies under poorly characterized reservoir 

conditions.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Industrial-scale injection of 

CO2 into the subsurface increases the fluid pressure in the reservoir, which if 

not properly controlled can potentially lead to geomechanical damage (i.e., 

fracturing of the caprock or reactivation of faults) and subsequent CO2 leakage. 

Brine extraction is one approach for managing formation pressure, effective 

stress, and plume movement in response to CO2 injection. The management 

of the extracted brine can be expensive (i.e., due to transportation, 

treatment, disposal, or re-injection), with added cost to the carbon capture 

and sequestration (CCS); thus, minimizing the volume of extraction brine is 

of great importance to ensure that the economics of CCS are favorable. The 

main objective of this study is to demonstrate the use of adaptive optimization 

methods in the planning of brine extraction and to investigate how the quality of 

initial site characterization data and the use of newly acquired monitoring data 

(e.g. pressure at observation wells) impact the optimization performance. [The 

authors] apply an adaptive management approach that integrates monitoring, 

calibration, and optimization of brine extraction rates to achieve pre-defined 

pressure constraints. [The authors’] results show that reservoir pressure 

management can be extremely benefited by early and high frequency pressure 

monitoring during early injection times, especially for poor initial reservoir 

characterization. Low frequencies of model calibration and optimization with 

monitoring data may lead to optimization problems because either pressure 

buildup constraints are violated or excessively high extraction rates are 

proposed. The adaptive pressure management approach may constitute 

an effective tool to manage pressure buildup under uncertain reservoir 

conditions by minimizing the volumes of extracted brine while controlling 

pressure buildup.” Ana González-Nicolás, Abdullah Cihan, Robin Petrusak, 

Quanlin Zhou, Robert Trautz, David Riestenberg, Michael Godec, and Jens 

T. Birkholzer, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription 

may be required.)

Modeling oil saturation evolution in residual oil zones: Implications for 

CO2 EOR and sequestration.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Residual oil zones (ROZs) 

are extensively developed in carbonate formations in the Permian Basin, 

West Texas. These ROZs have the potential both for economically-viable CO2

enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) and for significant volumes of associated 

CO2 sequestration. The accepted model for ROZ formation is based on the 

hydrodynamic effects of tectonically-controlled increased water flow in 

aquifers at the base of oil fields. The nature of this process is modelled using 

a commercial reservoir simulator in this work. These simulations explore the 

effects of strength of aquifer flow, flow direction, and capillary pressure on 

the nature and distribution of oil saturations in ROZs. A special emphasis was 

on understanding the impact of heterogeneity of capillary pressures in ROZ 

reservoirs. These factors determine the thickness of ROZs, the magnitude of oil 

saturation, and the slope of water-oil contacts. Understanding the magnitude 

of oil saturation and how it varies within ROZs is important in determining 

reserves, and evaluating both EOR and sequestration potential. The geometry 

of ROZs are established slowly, especially for small regional water fluxes, 

however oil saturations achieve almost steady states in relatively short time 

scales. The simulated oil saturation profiles found in this study are in reasonable 

agreement with the measured profile published for the San Andres Seminole 

Unit’s ROZ. The results support the plausibility of the hydrodynamic model, but 

do not rule out other models for the origin of ROZs.” Bo Ren and Ian Duncan, 

Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering. (Subscription may be required.)

Achieving carbon-neutral iron and steelmaking in Europe through the 

deployment of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The 30 integrated steel plants 

operating in the European Union (EU) are among the largest single-point CO2

emitters in the region. The deployment of bioenergy with carbon capture and 

storage (bio-CCS) could significantly reduce their emission intensities. In detail, 

the results demonstrate that CO2 emission reduction targets of up to 20% can 

be met entirely by biomass deployment. A slow CCS technology introduction 

on top of biomass deployment is expected, as the requirement for emission 

reduction increases further. Bio-CCS could then be a key technology, particularly 

in terms of meeting targets above 50%, with CO2 avoidance costs ranging 

between €60 and €100 tCO2−1 at full-scale deployment. The future of bio-CCS 

and its utilisation on a larger scale would therefore only be viable if such CO2

avoidance cost were to become economically appealing. Small and medium 

plants in particular, would economically benefit from sharing CO2 pipeline 

networks. CO2 transport, however, makes a relatively small contribution to the 

total CO2 avoidance cost. In the future, the role of bio-CCS in the European iron 

and steelmaking industry will also be influenced by non-economic conditions, 

such as regulations, public acceptance, realistic CO2 storage capacity, and 

the progress of other mitigation technologies.” Hana Mandova, Piera Patrizio, 

Sylvain Leduc, Jan Kjärstad, Chuan Wang, Elisabeth Wetterlund, Florian 

Kraxner, and William Gale, Journal of Cleaner Production. (Subscription may 

be required.)

Comparing carbon accumulation in restored and natural wetland soils 

of coastal Louisiana.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Louisiana’s chronic wetland 

deterioration has resulted in massive soil organic matter loss and subsequent 

carbon release through oxidation. To combat these losses, and reestablish 

ecosystem function, goods, and services, many restoration projects have been 

constructed or planned throughout coastal Louisiana. There are significant data 

gaps and conflicting results regarding wetland contributions [...] especially 
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related to carbon sequestration in restored wetlands. An exceptionally 

large data set was used to derive carbon accumulation rates from key soil 

characteristics and processes. Assessments and comparisons of bulk density, 

organic matter, total carbon, vertical accretion (short- and longer-term), and 

carbon accumulation rates were made across time (chronosequence) and 

space (i.e., coastwide, watershed basins, and vegetation zones). Carbon 

accumulation rates in the Louisiana coastal zone were generally correlated 

to hydrogeomorphology, with higher rates occurring in zones of high river 

connectivity or in swamp or higher salinity tolerant marsh. On average, naturally 

occurring wetlands had higher carbon accumulation rates than restoration 

sites. Although some restoration measures were higher, and most showed 

increasing carbon accumulation rates over time [...]” Glenn M. Suir, Charles 

E. Sasser, Ronald D. DeLaune, and Elizabeth O. Murray, International Journal 

of Sediment Research. (Subscription may be required.)

Carbon Capture Innovation Challenge: Report of the Carbon Capture, 

Utilization and Storage Experts’ Workshop.

The following is from the Preface of this Mission Innovation Report: “... The 

Mission Innovation Carbon Capture Challenge aims to provide a platform for 

advancing broad international collaboration in CCUS research and development 

that could significantly reduce CO2 emissions. This report presents the outcome 

of the Mission Innovation CCUS Experts workshop held in Trondheim, Norway in 

June 2019, in which attendees worked to identify research gaps, opportunities, 

and priorities in CCUS. The workshop addressed six different topics, and the 

report presents summaries and recommendations for all six topics, in short-, 

medium-, and long-term perspectives.”

Scaling Up Action: Aiming for net zero emissions.

The following is from the Foreword of this Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) 

report: “A key focus for OGCI this year has been carbon capture, use and 

storage (CCUS). [OCGI is] delighted to be launching CCUS KickStarter, a major 

new initiative designed to facilitate large-scale commercial investment in 

CCUS, by enabling multiple low-carbon industrial hubs. These hubs capture 

carbon dioxide from several industrial companies and bring economies of 

scale by sharing transport and storage infrastructure. [OCGI aims] to work with 

governments and other industries to facilitate the necessary market conditions 

for investment in CCUS hubs and projects by OGCI member companies, OGCI 

Climate Investments, governments and other investors. To this end [OCGI has] 

developed a strategic cooperation with the Clean Energy Ministerial CCUS 

Initiative to facilitate the market conditions for commercial scale investment in 

CCUS around the world.”

JANUARY 2020

Estimating the pressure-limited dynamic capacity and costs of basinscale CO2 storage in a saline formation.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Deployment of carbon capture 

and storage (CCS) could be necessary to be able to satisfy baseload electricity 

demand, maintain diversity in the energy mix, and achieve mitigation of carbon 

dioxide (CO2) emissions at lowest cost (IPCC, 2015; U.S. DOE, 2016). If basin-, 

regional- or national-scale deployment of CCS is needed, it may be possible to 

store only a small fraction of the captured CO2 in oil and natural gas reservoirs. 

The vast majority would likely have to be stored in saline formations. Pressure 

buildup as a result of injecting CO2 into such reservoirs is expected to be 

an important source of risk associated with CO2 storage, and could constrain 

dynamic storage capacities (maximum injection rates) to be far below 

estimates based on access to theoretical storage resources. Estimates of CO2

storage costs based on an assumption of practical availability of the theoretical 

storage resource could lead to underestimation of the costs of CO2 storage. In 

this study, simulation results suggest that the pressure-limited dynamic CO2

storage capacity of the Mount Simon Sandstone could be less than 4% of the 

theoretical storage resource in this saline formation, and storage costs could 

be an order of magnitude higher than recent estimates. However, consideration 

of the geologic heterogeneity in this deep saline formation allowed definition of 

a high injectivity zone, and estimated costs of CO2 storage in this ‘sweet spot’ 

of the reservoir approached recent estimates that did not include costs for 

pressure management.” Steven T. Anderson and Hossein Jahediesfanjani, 

International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be 

required.)

Characterization of local capillary trap clusters in storage aquifers.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Local capillary trapping 

occurs when buoyant CO2 moves upward in a saline aquifer during geologic 

carbon sequestration. The volumetric capacity of local capillary traps (LCTs) is 

controlled by reservoir geological heterogeneity. These traps are thus intrinsic 

to heterogeneous storage aquifers; their volumetric capacities are however 

largely unknown. To address this issue, this work employs an easily calculated 

criterion that requires only a static geologic model to estimate the properties 

of LCT clusters, including size, frequency, and extent. Specifically, this work 

quantitatively analyzes: i) the properties of the largest LCT cluster; and ii) the 

impact of reservoir heterogeneity on cluster properties. The key finding of 

this work is that spatially-correlated reservoir heterogeneity in the horizontal 

direction causes the largest LCT cluster to laterally span across a given domain 

even when the horizontal correlation length is small (only 1/25th) compared to 

the domain width. The overall work sheds useful insights of the dependence 

of LCT clusters on reservoir heterogeneity and its implication for CO2 trapping 

quantification.” Bo Ren and Luca Trevisan, Energy. (Subscription may be 

required.)

Modeling of ex-situ dissolution for geologic sequestration of carbon 

dioxide in aquifers.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Underground carbon dioxide 

(CO2) sequestration is considered to be one of the main methods to mitigate 

greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this technology, pure CO2 is injected into 

an underground geological formation and since it is less dense than residual 

fluids, there is always a risk of leakage to the surface. To increase security 

of underground CO2 disposal, ex-situ dissolution can be implemented. When 

CO2 is dissolved in brine before injection, it significantly reduces the risks 

of leakage. In this approach, pure CO2 is dissolved on the surface before 

injection. Surface dissolution could be achieved in a pipeline operating under 

the pressure of a target aquifer into which the CO2 is injected. In a pipeline, CO2

droplets are dissolved being dispersed in a brine turbulent flow. In this paper, 

a comprehensive model of droplet dissolution along a pipeline is presented. 

The model accounts for droplet breakup and coalescence processes and 

is validated against available experimental data.” Federico Cao, Dmitry 

Eskin, and Yuri Leonenko, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering. 

(Subscription may be required.)

Prediction leakage channels of CO2 injection wells.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “During CO2 injection, a 

microannulus will be generated, leading to the transmission of gas through 

the cement behind the casing or before the formation when thermal stress 

exceeds bond strength. In this work, leakage channel prediction model was 

developed to predict the leakage channel of CO2 injection wells. The prediction 

results indicate that the thermal stresses first decreased and then increased 

with increasing well depth; decreased with increasing radial distance; and 

increased with increasing injection time. The cement sheath of a production 

casing is more likely to form a leakage channel than other cement sheaths 

during long-duration CO2 injection.” Bin Yuan, Yongqing Wang, Shuqiang Shi, 

and Yibo Feng, Energy Procedia. (Subscription may be required.)

Nanosilica-latex reduction carbonation-induced degradation in cement 

of CO2 geological storage wells.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Carbon capture and storage 

(CCS) is a promising solution for reducing carbon dioxide concentration in the 

atmosphere. Wellbore integrity (in particular, the durability of the cement) is 

critical for ensuring the long-term viability and safety of CCS projects. The 

ordinary Portland cement (OPC) currently used in CCS wells has been shown 

to be unstable in CO2-rich environments. Therefore, this study investigated 

amorphous-nanosilica-latex (ANL) modified oil well cement and studied 

its carbonation-induced degradation resistance properties. [The authors] 

observed that the modified cement had lower original permeability, higher 
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compressive strength, and smaller penetration depth than existing OPC, even 

after carbonation degradation. For example, the initial permeability of 6 wt 

% for the ANL-modified cement was seven times smaller than that of OPC, 

while after 90 days of carbonation degradation, the carbonation penetration 

depth was more than 15.7 times smaller than OPC. ANL also reacted with 

hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) to generate products with low calcium silicon ratios (such 

as tobermorite) and reduced the pH of the cement. ANL-modified cement 

showed superior degradation resistance due to (i) a decrease in permeability 

because of film formation effect of latex and filling effect of nano-particles, 

and (ii) the reacted with Ca(OH)2 to generate longer chains of calcium silicate 

hydrate.” Bihua Xu, Bin Yuan, Yongqing Wang, Shunpeng Zeng, and Yuhao 

Yang, Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering. (Subscription may be 

required.)

The impact of environmental innovation on carbon dioxide emissions.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “This paper examines the 

effects of environmental innovation on carbon dioxide emissions in the EU-27 

countries between 1992 and 2014. [The authors] utilize the Generalized Method 

of Moments in a dynamic panel setting. Patent counts of environmental patent 

applications are used as indicator for environmental innovation. [The authors] 

find that environmental innovation did contribute to reductions of carbon 

dioxide emissions, while general innovative activity does not cause decreases 

in emissions. However, this effect is found to be comparatively small to the 

effects of increased economic activity. Further, [the authors] find the effect of 

innovation to differ across countries, with less developed economies showing a 

higher level of heterogeneity.” Daniel Töbelmann and Tobias Wendler, Journal 

of Cleaner Production. (Subscription may be required.)

Knowledge spillover efficiency of carbon capture, utilization, and 

storage technology: A comparison among countries.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “This study examines the 

carbon capture, utilization, and storage research performance of 31 countries 

from the knowledge spillover perspective. Knowledge spillover efficiency—

operationally defined as the level of academic and practical influence of 

research and development outputs—is measured using the output-oriented 

constant return to scale, variable returns to scale, and super efficiency models 

using data envelopment analysis. [The authors] consider the number of 

patents and research articles from 2000 to 2016 as input variables, while the 

number of research article citations, patent citations, and registration of triadic 

patent families as of 2017 are the three output variables. The samples for 

measuring efficiency were obtained by collecting patents and research articles 

using Wintelips and Scopus database, respectively. The results of the superefficiency data envelopment analysis were used to examine each country’s 

position in terms of knowledge spillover. More specifically, the US, European 

countries, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand showed relatively high efficiency, 

which might be characteristic of their R&D policies and environmental factors. 

Moreover, the returns to scale analysis provide implications for R&D resource 

allocation as to whether to encourage the quantitative or qualitative expansion 

of R&D outputs to improve efficiency. This study can provide meaningful 

information to policymakers to identify ex post R&D activities and planning.” 

Junhee Bae, Yanghon Chung, Jaewook Lee, and Hangyeol Seo, Journal of 

Cleaner Production. (Subscription may be required.)

Impacts of China’s emissions trading schemes on deployment of 

power generation with carbon capture and storage.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The establishment of an 

emissions trading scheme (ETS) in China creates the potential for a ‘least cost’ 

solution for achieving the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions required 

for China to meet its Paris Agreement pledges. China has pledged to reduce 

CO2 intensity by 60–65% in 2030 relative to 2005 and to stop the increase in 

absolute CO2 emissions around 2030. In this series of studies, [the authors] 

enhance the MIT Economic Projection and Policy Analysis (EPPA) model to 

include the latest assessments of the costs of power generation technologies in 

China to evaluate the impacts of different potential ETS pathways on deployment 

of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. This paper reports the results 

from baseline scenarios where power generation prices are assumed to be 

homogeneous across the country for a given mode of generation. [The authors] 

find that there are different pathways where CCS might play an important role 

in reducing the emission intensity in China’s electricity sector, especially for 

low carbon intensity targets consistent with the ultimate goals of the Paris 

Agreement. Uncertainty about the exact technology mix suggests that decision 

makers should be wary of picking winning technologies, and should instead 

seek to provide incentives for emission reductions. While it will be challenging 

to meet the CO2 intensity target of 550 g/kWh for the electric power sector 

by 2020, multiple pathways exist for achieving lower targets over a longer 

timeframe. [The authors’] initial analysis shows that carbon prices of 35–40$/

tCO2 make CCS technologies on coal-based generation cost-competitive 

against other modes of generation and that carbon prices higher than 100$/

tCO2 favor a major expansion of CCS. The next step is to confirm these initial 

results with more detailed modeling that takes into account granularity across 

China’s energy sector at the provincial level.” Jennifer Morris, Sergey Paltsev, 

and Anthony Y. Ku, Energy Economics. (Subscription may be required.)

ELEGANCY: The Interdisciplinary Approach of the German Case Study 

to Enable a Low Carbon Economy by Hydrogen and CCS.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The goal of the multinational 

ACT project ELEGANCY is to accelerate the decarbonisation of the European 

energy system by exploiting synergies between carbon capture and storage 

(CCS) and hydrogen (H2). The introduction of CCS is delayed due to lack 

of business models, the widespread use of H2 is hindered by the cost and 

availability of large quantities of clean hydrogen. The five participating countries 

Norway, England, Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany want to investigate 

and evaluate the combination of a hydrogen infrastructure with CCS in case 

studies and develop a planning tool. The Ruhr-University Bochum is working 

interdisciplinarily with five institutes within the framework of the Research 

Department Closed Carbon Cycle Economy (RD-CCCE). Thus, in addition to the 

technical part, social, macroeconomic and legal aspects are considered in the 

German case study. This interdisciplinary approach is presented in this paper, 

describing the practices of the different disciplines.” Stefan Flamme, Daniel 

Benrath, Sabrina Glanz, Franziska Hoffart, Christian Pielow, Michael Roos, 

Roland Span, Hermann-Josef Wagner, and Anna-Lena Schönauer, Energy 

Procedia. (Subscription may be required.)

Soil organic matter decomposition and carbon sequestration in 

temperate coniferous forest soils affected by soluble and insoluble 

spruce needle fractions.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Temperate forest soils are 

important carbon (C) sinks, where the C-stock is largely determined by the 

balance of leaf inputs and losses through respiration. However, studies dealing 

with leaf inputs to coniferous forest soils are limited although coniferous 

forests are widespread through the Northern temperate zone. In this study, 

[the authors] focused on the effects of soluble, insoluble and whole-tissue 

coniferous needle fractions on soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition and C 

storage in soil fractions. In addition, the effect of future increased C input was 

tested by applying a doubled amount of the soluble fraction (whole-tissue + 

soluble fraction). 13C-labelled needles were produced from spruce seedlings 

in growth chambers and needle fractions were added to the coniferous 

forest soil in laboratory microcosms. CO2 respired during incubation from the 

microcosms was partitioned into needle- and SOM-derived components. After 

seven months, soils were destructively harvested and analyzed for C content 

in soil fractions and microbial community composition...” Veronika Jílková, 

Kateřina Jandová, Allan Sim, Barry Thornton, and Eric Paterson, Soil Biology 

and Biochemistry. (Subscription may be required.)

Computed Tomography Scanning and Geophysical Measurements of 

Core from the State Charlton #4-30 Well.

The following is from the abstract of this DOE/NETL document: “The computed 

tomography (CT) facilities and the Multi-Sensor Core Logger (MSCL) at the 

National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Morgantown, West Virginia 

were used to characterize core of the Bass Island, Bois Blanc, and Amherstburg 

Formations from a vertical well (State Charlton #4-30) from Otsego County, 

Michigan at depths 3,030.0 to 3,090.0 ft and 3,400.0 to 3,520.5 ft. 
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The primary impetus of this work is a collaboration between the Michigan 

Geological Survey (MGS) and NETL to characterize core to better understand 

the potential of carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration within formations in the 

Michigan Basin. As part of this effort, bulk CT scans of core were obtained 

from the State Charlton #4-30 well, provided by the MGS. This report, and the 

associated scans generated, provide detailed datasets not typically available for 

researchers to analyze. The resulting datasets are presented in this report and 

can be accessed from NETL’s Energy Data eXchange (EDX) online system...

All equipment and techniques used were non-destructive, enabling future 

examinations and analyses to be performed on the cores. Low-resolution CT 

images obtained with the NETL medical CT scanner were obtained for the 

entire core and high-resolution CT images acquired with the NETL industrial CT 

scanner were obtained for selected sections of the core. Qualitative analysis of 

the medical CT images coupled with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) measurements 

from the MSCL were useful in identifying zones of interest for more detailed 

analysis. The ability to quickly identify key areas for more detailed study 

with higher resolution will save time and resources in future studies. The 

combination of methods used provides a multi-scale analysis of this core and 

descriptions of the core that are relevant for many subsurface examinations 

that have traditionally been performed at NETL.”

Carbon Dioxide Enhanced Oil Recovery Life Cycle (CELiC) Model.

The following is the description of this DOE/NETL product: “The Carbon Dioxide 

(CO2) Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Life Cycle (CELiC) Model calculates life 

cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for a CO2-EOR system, where the user 

can select one of three sources of the injected CO2: (1) extracted from a natural 

dome, (2) captured from a coal-fired power plant, or (3) captured from a natural 

gas power plant. The model has several parameters and options to allow the 

assessment of the system for a wide-array of products—electricity, pipeline 

CO2, crude oil, and refined fuels. The model is also capable of deterministic 

(i.e., point estimate) and stochastic (i.e., probabilistic) analyses and finally a 

deterministic time-series analysis that shows the changing GHG emissions for 

the CO2-EOR system over time.”

FE/NETL CO2 Transport Cost Model.

The following is the description of this DOE/NETL product: “The FE/NETL CO2

Transport Cost Model is a spreadsheet-based tool that calculates the net 

present value for a project that transports liquid CO2 by pipeline. The model 

includes the capital costs, operating costs, financing costs and revenues for 

the project. The model can calculate the break-even first year price (or cost) 

for transporting a tonne of CO2 by finding the price that yields a net present 

value of zero for the project. The user provides a variety of inputs including 

the annual mass of CO2 to be transported, the pipeline length, the years of 

operation and financial parameters.” 

FEBRUARY 2020

Comparative Analysis of Transport and Storage Options 

from a CO2 Source Perspective.

The following is the description of this DOE/NETL product: “This analysis 

evaluated integrated CCS costs (i.e., capture, transport, and storage) from 

the perspective of a CO2 source. Capture costs for sources with annual 

CO2 capture rates from 0.65 to 3.90 Mt were based on two NETL reports. 

Transportation costs from source to storage reservoir were modeled for two 

pipelines systems (dedicated and trunkline) using the FE/NETL CO2 Transport 

Cost Model. Storage costs were modeled in dome and regional dip structural 

settings for two reservoirs in the Rose Run Formation, three within the Mt. 

Simon, one in the Lower Tuscaloosa, and one in the Frio using the FE/NETL 

CO2 Saline Storage Cost Model. A paper with the same name and information 

as well as additional details on this analysis was published in The International 

Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control along with a supplementary document 

that provides additional material (i.e., key parameters used in the models for 

obtaining transport and storage costs and CCS cost and pipeline results).” 

NETL Baseline Studies for Fossil Energy Plants.

The following is the overview of these NETL studies: “The NETL Baseline Studies 

for Fossil Energy Plants establish estimates for the cost and performance of 

combustion- and gasification-based power plants, as well as options for cogenerating synthetic natural gas and fuels - all with and without carbon dioxide 

capture and storage - for several ranks of coal. These studies are considered 

to be the most comprehensive set of public data available for state-of-theart technologies. The primary value of these studies lies not in the absolute 

accuracy of estimates for the individual cases, but in the fact that all cases are 

evaluated using a common methodology with an internally-consistent set of 

technical and economic assumptions. This consistency allows for meaningful 

comparisons of relative costs among the cases and with advanced technology 

cases build upon the same case assumptions.” The four volume set consists 

of the following: Volume 1: Bituminous Coal and Natural Gas to Electricity; 

Volume 2: Coal to Synthetic Natural Gas and Ammonia (Various Coal Ranks); 

Volume 3: Low-Rank Coal to Electricity; and Volume 4: Bituminous Coal to 

Liquid Fuels with Carbon Capture.

Feasibility of limestone reservoirs as a carbon dioxide storage site: 

An experimental study.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Carbon capture and storage 

technology is a means to permanently store carbon dioxide (CO2) in suitable 

geologic formations, such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs and saline 

aquifers. The potential of depleted carbonates reservoirs for being a secure 

storage site has been assessed in several studies based on the key storage 

aspects. However, minor attention has been given to rock type and the potential 

compaction of carbonates at different injection rates when geochemical 

interactions posed by supercritical CO2 reduces their elastic properties and 

strength. In this study, limestone samples were tested to investigate changes 

in their physical and mechanical characteristics once flooded by CO2 at a very 

low injection rate. The results obtained indicate that an excessive pressure 

drop might be experienced even under a very low injection rate because of 

continuous dissolution of carbonates in the presence of CO2 and brine. Creation 

of wormholes and the dissolution of the matrix were also observed through 

scanning electron microscope, computerized tomography scan, and nuclear 

magnetic resonance tests. It was also observed that the elastic parameters 

and the strength of the limestone samples may significantly decrease after 

CO2 flooding, which might be linked to calcite dissolution and weakening of the 

solid skeleton.” Arshad Raza, Raoof Gholami, and Mohammad Sarmadivaleh, 

AAPG Bulleting. (Subscription may be required.)

Numerical assessment of fault impact on caprock seals 

during CO2 sequestration.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Coupled fluid-flow and 

geomechanical analysis of caprock integrity has gained a lot of attention 

among scientists and researchers investigating the long-term performance 

of geologic carbon storage systems. Reactivation of pre-existing fractures 

within the caprock or re-opening of faults can create permeable pathways 

which can influence the seal integrity. Stability of the caprock during and after 

injection of super-critical CO2, and the impact of pre-existing fractures in the 

presence or absence of one or multiple faults have been investigated in this 

study. The impact of the wellbore orientation and the injection rate are among 

other key factors in understanding the structural trapping mechanisms within 

such geological formations. In this study, [the authors] numerically investigated 

the impact of each of these factors. This study revealed the interplay between 

joints and faults and how different leakage pathways are formed and under 

which scenario they play a dominant role in terms of CO2 leakage. This study 

also highlights the role of one versus multiple faults in the domain and the 

importance of the fault hydrological property in forming leakage pathway.” 

P. Newell and M.J. Martinez, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. 

(Subscription may be required.)
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Experimental study on natural gas hydrate exploitation: 

Optimization of methane recovery, carbon dioxide storage 

and deposit structure preservation.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Aim of this work is locating 

how CO2 replacement into methane hydrate deposits may be performed, 

in order to increase both methane recovered and carbon dioxide stored 

quantities. The experimental section deals with the study of natural gas hydrate 

formation process and replacement of methane, contained into water cages, 

with carbon dioxide. In particular, the formation of methane hydrate is analyzed 

to understand the parameters that most influence the replacement process. A 

total of 10 tests were carried out in a laboratory scale reactor. Test 1–8 were 

performed adopting thermal stimulation as replacement technique, while in 

Test 9 and Test 10 depressurization was used. Results obtained have led to the 

conclusion that the rate of methane hydrate formation positively influences the 

percentage of CO2 stored, while the initial saturation of the sand pores has a 

negative effect. The presence of hydrate agglomerates hinders the gas transition 

preventing the replacement process. Finally, a greater quantity of CO2 hydrate, 

both via replacement process and via new hydrate formation, is related to a 

higher deposit structure preservation. As emerges from the experimental tests, 

the adopted replacement strategy influences the experimental relationships.” 

Alberto Maria Gambelli, Beatrice Castellani, Andrea Nicolini, and Federico 

Rossi, Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering. (Subscription may be 

required.)

Bringing value to the chemical industry from capture, storage and use 

of CO2: A dynamic LCA of formic acid production.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Low carbon options for the 

chemical industry include switching from fossil to renewable energy, adopting 

new low-carbon production processes, along with retrofitting current plants 

with carbon capture for ulterior use (CCU technologies) or storage (CCS). In this 

paper, [the authors] combine a dynamic Life Cycle Assessment (d-LCA) with 

economic analysis to explore a potential transition to low-carbon manufacture 

of formic acid. [The authors] propose new methods to enable early technical, 

environmental and economic assessment of formic acid manufacture by 

electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CCU), and compare this production route to 

the conventional synthesis pathways and to storing CO2 in geological storage 

(CCS). Both CCU and CCS reduce carbon emissions in particular scenarios, 

although the uncertainty in results suggests that further research and scaleup validation are needed to clarify the relative emission reduction compared 

to conventional process pathways. There are trade-offs between resource 

security, cost and emissions between CCU and CCS systems. As expected, 

the CCS technology yields greater reductions in CO2 emissions than the 

CCU scenarios and the conventional processes. However, compared to CCS 

systems, CCU has better economic potential and lower fossil consumption, 

especially when powered by renewable electricity. The integration of renewable 

energy in the chemical industry has an important climate mitigation role, 

especially for processes with high electrical and thermal energy demands.” 

Rubén Aldaco, Isabela Butnar, María Margallo, Jara Laso, Marta Rumayor, 

Antonio Dominguez-Ramos, Angel Irabien, and Paul E. Dodds, Science of 

The Total Environment. (Subscription may be required.)

A carbon price prediction model based on secondary decomposition 

algorithm and optimized back propagation neural network.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Carbon trading is one of the 

important mechanisms used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The increasing 

interest in the carbon trading market has heightened the need to decrease 

the prediction error of the carbon price. In this paper, a new hybrid model 

for carbon price forecasting is proposed, and the secondary decomposition 

algorithm is innovatively introduced into carbon price forecasting. First, 

time series data were decomposed into several intrinsic modal functions by 

empirical mode decomposition (EMD). Second, the first intrinsic mode function 

(IMF1) was further decomposed by variational mode decomposition (VMD). 

Then, the model input was determined by partial autocorrelation analysis 

(PACF). Finally, the back propagation (BP) neural network model optimized by 

genetic algorithm (GA) was utilized for prediction. In the empirical analysis of 

the Hubei market, the proposed model outperforms other comparative models. 

The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), goodness of fit (R2

) and root 

mean square error (RMSE) of the model are 1.7577%, 0.9929 and 0.5441, 

respectively. In the complementary cases of the Beijing and Shanghai carbon 

markets, the model also performs best. The results suggest that the proposed 

model is effective and robust and could predict carbon prices more accurately.” 

Wei Sun and Chenchen Huang, Journal of Cleaner Production. (Subscription 

may be required.)

CO2 leakage environmental damage cost 

– A CCS project in South Korea.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The safety of CCS, namely 

the prevention of CO2 leakage, is one of the most sensitive issues in the CCS 

project. In order to solve this issue efficiently, the knowledge of environmental 

damage cost of CO2 leakage, in advance of CCS project, is indispensable. 

Therefore, this study estimates this cost by employing a contingent valuation 

(CV) method with data collected from a nationwide survey in South Korea. 

In addition, numerous zero willingness to pay (WTP) responses were dealt 

thorough the spike model in setting one-and-one-half-bound dichotomous 

choice data (OOHBDC). The estimate of the annual mean WTP was 2645.9 

Korean won (USD 2.4), while the annual mean WTP is 3489.8 Korean won 

(USD 3.2) for those supporting the introduction of CCS technology in South 

Korea. The environmental damage cost of CO2 leakage was 49.5 billion Korean 

won (USD 45.0 million) annually.” Joo Suk Lee and Eun Chul Choi, Renewable 

and Sustainable Energy Reviews. (Subscription may be required.)

Carbon reduction in a supply chain via dynamic 

carbon emission quotas.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “... governments have issued 

a series of policies to control carbon emissions. A carbon quota policy is one 

of them. This study aimed to verify the effectiveness of the policy by examining 

its impact on supply chain members. This paper investigates emissions 

reduction in a supply chain under different carbon emission quotas in two 

stages. This paper constructs a supply chain model in three modes: (i) no 

carbon emission quota policy, (ii) the government implements the first stage 

of a carbon quota policy, and (iii) the government offers lower carbon quotas 

in the second stage. The analysis reveals that when the initial carbon quota 

allocated by the government meets certain conditions, the emission reduction 

rate in the first stage of the carbon quota policy is greater than that without 

the carbon quota policy; and an interesting finding is that the reduction rate 

further increases when the government reduces carbon quotas in the second 

stage. In addition to the reduction rate, the manufacturer’s and the retailer’s 

profits increase with consumers’ preference for low-carbon products. With an 

increase of the decline parameter of free allocated carbon emission rights, 

the profits of both the manufacturer and the retailer decrease, but the profit 

of the manufacturer in the second stage is always lower than that in the first 

stage, whereas the retailer’s profit is higher in the second stage than in the 

first stage.” Wenbin Wang, Changya Zhou, Xingyue Li, Journal of Cleaner 

Production. (Subscription may be required.)

Impacts of horizontal integration on social welfare under 

the interaction of carbon tax and green subsidies.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Both a carbon tax and 

green subsidies are efficient approaches to limit greenhouse gas emission. 

However, interactions between these two policies remain a critical gap 

area. In this paper [the authors] consider a channel structure originally 

consisted of two manufacturers and two retailers each of whom sells only 

one manufacturer’s product exclusively. The products produced by the two 

manufacturers are substitutable. The government subsidizes consumers 

who buy low carbon products but imposes a carbon tax on the manufacturer 

producing high carbon products. [The authors] analyze tripartite games among 

manufacturers, retailers, and the government when horizontal integration 

between manufacturers or retailers is presented. It is a common belief that 

horizontal integration reduces competition and thus causes a loss in social 

welfare. However, [the authors] find that, with government intervention, neither 

type of horizontal integration has an effect on social welfare. Although horizon 

integration may change the optimal subsidy and carbon tax levels, it has no 
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October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

effect on the equilibrium demands for both products. [The authors] also show 

that the integration of manufacturers does not affect retailers’ profits, but the 

integration of retailers hurts both manufacturers due to the direct head-tohead competition.” Changyan Xu, Chuanxu Wang, and Rongbing Huang, 

International Journal of Production Economics. (Subscription may be required.)

Assessment of the carbon emissions reduction potential of China’s 

iron and steel industry based on a simulation analysis.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “This study provides a feasible 

approach for decreasing the carbon emissions of China’s iron and steel industry 

(ISI) by 2030 using the environmental-economic simulation model. The ISI 

and its upstream industries are optimized by introducing both technological 

upgrades and environmental policies. Six scenarios are designed, including 

business-as-usual (BaU), industrial upgrades (tec), carbon tax (tax), carbon 

trading (tra), and combination (cob) 1 and cob2, which combine the tec, tax and 

tra scenarios. The results show that the tec scenario can effectively curb carbon 

emissions. The tax scenario significantly promotes low emissions technologies. 

The cob2 scenario has the most stringent carbon emissions control effect and 

helps the ISI meet the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) 

target of China. Moreover, the rates of carbon emissions increase under the 

tec, cob1, and cob2 scenarios will decrease after 2027, indicating that it is 

highly possible that carbon emissions will peak in 2030. The decrease in 

crude steel production and electricity demand is also essential for the carbon 

emissions reduction of the ISI. This research comprehensively analyzes the 

factors influencing carbon emissions from the Chinese ISI. Analyzing this issue 

from the industrial chain perspective provides a new research scope for future 

simulation model studies.” Zhaoling Li, Hancheng Dai, Junnian Song, Lu Sun, 

Yong Geng, Keyu Lu, and Tatsuya Hanaoka, Energy. (Subscription may be 

required.)

Trends in global research in forest carbon sequestration: 

A bibliometric analysis.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Based on the Web of Science 

Core Collection databases from 1990 to 2018, a scientometric analysis of 

1,284 academic works related to forest carbon sequestration is carried out to 

characterize the intellectual landscape by identifying and revealing the basic 

characteristics, research power, intellectual base and research hotspots in this 

field. The results of this work show that: [1] the number of publications in 

forest carbon sequestration research has increased rapidly and the research 

in this field is in its ‘growth stage’; Forest Ecology and Management is the 

most productive journal and Forestry is the most popular subject category; 

[2] the most productive authors and institutions in this subject area are in the 

USA, China and Canada, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences being the key 

institution performing such research; [3] in the sample, 9 papers have played 

a key role in the evolution of the field and laid a solid foundation for future 

research; [4] Keyword clustering analysis showed that the main research 

topics in the domain of forest carbon sequestration could be summarized as: 

(a) temperate forest; (b) forest management; (c) uncertainty analysis; (d) forest 

floor; (e) REDD; (f) net primary productivity...” Li Huang, Mi Zhou, Jie Lv, and 

Ke Chen, Journal of Cleaner Production. (Subscription may be required.) 

Quantifying the soil organic carbon sequestration performance and 

carbon emissions offset potential of the City of Calgary’s Willow 

Biomass and Marginal Land Reclamation Demonstration Project.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The primary objective of this 

study was to measure the soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration performance 

of The City of Calgary Dewatered Biosolids Land Application Program – Willow 

Biomass and Marginal Land Reclamation Demonstration Project (hereafter, 

‘the demonstration Project’) after five years of operation. The second objective 

was to assess the demonstration Project’s potential to earn soil-based carbon 

offset revenue through the Alberta Emissions Offset System in the future. To 

accomplish the first objective, SOC stocks were measured at three sampling 

locations subject to different combinations of recommended management 

practices (RMP) for SOC sequestration by the 21st Conference of the Parties 

to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21).” 

Chelsey Greene, UWSpace. (Subscription may be required.

MARCH 2020

Pulverized Coal Carbon Capture Retrofit Database.

The following is a description of this DOE/NETL product: “This tool provides a 

high level analysis on the incremental costs for retrofitting point sources with 

CO2 capture and compression systems. Options are available to include cost 

of other technological improvements that would be required to comply with 

various regulations and new source performance standard when installing CO2

capture technology.”

Quality Guidelines for Energy System Studies: Carbon Dioxide 

Transport and Storage Costs in NETL Studies.

The following is a description of this DOE/NETL product: “The costs to be 

used in energy system studies sponsored by the National Energy Technology 

Laboratory (NETL) for estimating the cost of carbon dioxide (CO2) pipeline 

transport and storage (T&S) (rounded to the nearest whole, real dollar in 2018 

dollars per metric ton [2018$/tonne]).”

The fossil fuel industry’s framing of carbon capture and storage: Faith 

in innovation, value instrumentalization, and status quo maintenance.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Drawing from the critical 

theory of Herbert Marcuse, [the authors] expect that the fossil fuel industry will 

support carbon capture and storage (CCS) because it can further and prolong 

profitability in the industry. Through a qualitative analysis of fossil fuel company 

and trade organization framings of CCS, three frames are identified: (1) faith in 

innovation, or, the belief that any barrier that fetters technological solutions to 

environmental problems can be overcome; (2) value instrumentalization, or, the 

predominance of instrumental values when justifying or explaining the benefits 

of technological solutions; and (3) status quo maintenance, or, the application 

or anticipated application of technological solutions in order to reproduce the 

most fundamental processes and social structures that characterize modern 

societies. Frames tend to omit the following issues and concerns relevant to 

CCS: (4) potential social and environmental risks (risk minimization); (5) noninstrumental values (value restriction); and (6) possible future scenarios that 

are qualitatively different than a growing economy powered by increased 

energy throughput (possibility blindness). The potential climate and energy 

policy implications of these framings are analyzed and assessed.” Ryan 

Gunderson, Diana Stuart, and Brian Peterson, Journal of Cleaner Production. 

(Subscription may be required).

Gas hydrate exploitation and carbon dioxide sequestration under 

maintaining the stiffness of hydrate-bearing sediments.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “To improve the stratum 

mechanical properties and prevent the geological disaster, [the authors] 

present a new approach by executing CH4 hydrate exploitation and CO2

sequestration below the freezing point of water to maintain the stratum 

stiffness during and after hydrate exploitation. An experimental method to 

clearly show the evolution of the stratum mechanical properties was built 

and a series of experiments were conducted to simulate the CH4 exploitation 

and CO2 sequestration process below and above the freezing point of water. 

The stratum stiffness was found to be maintained during the whole hydrate 

exploitation process when below the freezing point. Moreover, the presence 

of ice improves the stratum stiffness due to cementing the sandy grain. The 

CO2 injection into the hydrate-bearing sediments would further enhance the 

mechanical properties and realize a CO2 geological sequestration. Compared 

with hydrate exploitation above the freezing point, the CH4 recovery efficiency 

is a little lower when under below the freezing point and it decreased with 

the increased hydrate saturation due to the CH4 hydrate being surrounded 

by the generation of ice from hydrate dissociation. This phenomenon could be 

modified by injecting CO2, from which the CH4 recovery efficiency obviously 

improved for hydrate exploitation below the freezing point.” Liang-Liang Ren, 

Min Jiang, Ling-Ban Wang, Yi-Jian Zhu, Zhi Li, Chang-Yu Sun, and GuangJin Chen, Energy. (Subscription may be required.)
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Silicate mediated simultaneous in-situ CO2 sequestration and nutrients 

removal in anaerobic digestion.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “This study investigated the 

reactions among CO32−, PO43−, NH4+, Mg2+, and Ca2+, under different CO32−

concentration and Mg2+/Ca2+ ratio, and conducted sludge anaerobic digestion 

(AD) with silicate addition to achieve in-situ CO2 sequestration and nutrients 

removal. High CO32− concentration facilitated the formation of MgNH4PO4, 

and Mg2+/Ca2+ ratio of 1:1 achieved best CO32−, PO43−, and NH4+ removal 

in simulated anaerobic digestate. Supplementation of 40 g/L magnesium 

silicate combined with 20 g/L wollastonite decreased CO2 content in biogas 

from 28.2% to 19.0%, and removed PO43− and NH4+ by 61.8% and 21.2%, 

respectively, in AD. Simultaneous in-situ CO2 sequestration and nutrients 

removal was achieved by directed precipitation of PO43−, NH4+, and CO2 with 

silicate released Mg2+ and Ca2+, to form MgNH4PO4 and CaCO3. Meanwhile, 

methane production was improved by 51.2% with silicate supplementation. 

This study provides an attractive measure for CO2 and nutrients removal as 

well as methane production enhancement of sludge AD.” He Liu, Linlin Gong, 

Yan Zhang, Qianqian Jiang, Minhua Cui, Jie Zhang, Bo Fu, and Hongbo Liu, 

Bioresource Technology. (Subscription may be required.)

Mechanism of the CO2 storage and in situ hydrogenation to CH4. 

Temperature and adsorbent loading effects over Ru-CaO/Al2O3 

and Ru-Na2CO3/Al2O3 catalysts.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The use of fossil fuels to 

satisfy the growing energy demand results in the emission of a huge amount 

of CO2 to the atmosphere. One alternative to overcome this environmental 

issue is the CO2 valorization through the storage and in situ hydrogenation 

to CH4. In this work, Ru-CaO/Al2O3 and Ru-Na2CO3/Al2O3 dual function 

materials are synthesized with different adsorbent loadings, namely 5, 10 and 

15 wt.%. The prepared catalysts are characterized in terms of surface area 

by N2 adsorption and desorption, crystallinity by XRD, Ru dispersion by H2-

chemisorption and TEM, basicity by CO2-TPD and reducibility and oxidation 

state of the noble metal by H2-TPR and XPS. Temperature programmed surface 

reaction experiments with H2 on samples with pre-adsorbed CO2 reveal that 

the decomposition of surface carbonates and the subsequent hydrogenation 

occurs at lower temperatures for catalysts containing Na2CO3 than CaO. A 

complete reaction scheme describing the CO2 adsorption and hydrogenation 

process has been proposed based on the temporal evolution of reactants and 

products. Oxides (CaO or Na2O) and hydrated oxides (Ca(OH)2 or NaOH) have 

been identified as CO2 storage sites, the former oxides being more reactive 

towards the CO2 adsorption. CH4, H2O and minor amounts of CO are detected 

during the hydrogenation step. The CO2 storage and hydrogenation to CH4 is 

promoted with increasing the adsorbent loading. Maximum CH4 production of 

414 μmolg−1 is observed for Ru15%CaO/Al2O3 at 400°C. High temperature 

is needed to efficiently decompose the highly stable carbonates formed onto 

CaO. On the other hand, the higher Ru dispersion along with a lower stability of 

carbonates in Ru10%Na2CO3/Al2O3 promotes CH4 formation (383 μmolg−1) 

at notably lower temperature, i.e. 310°C. Thus, Ru10%Na2CO3/Al2O3 is 

regarded as a suitable catalyst for the CO2 storage and in situ hydrogenation 

to CH4.” A. Bermejo-López, B. Pereda-Ayo, J.A. González-Marcos, and J.R. 

González-Velasco, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. (Subscription may be 

required.)

Determinants of Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration and Its 

Contribution to Ecosystem Carbon Sinks of Planted Forests.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The area of forest established 

through afforestation/reforestation has been increasing on a global scale, 

which is particularly important as these planted forests attenuate climate 

change by sequestering carbon. However, the determinants of soil organic 

carbon sequestration and their contribution to the ecosystem carbon sink of 

planted forests remains uncertain. By using globally distributed data extracted 

from 154 peer-reviewed publications and a total of 355 sampling points, [the 

authors] investigated above-ground biomass carbon (ABC) sequestration 

and soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration across three different climatic 

zones (tropical, warm temperate, and cold temperate) through correlation 

analysis, regression models, and structural equation modeling (SEM). [The 

authors] found that the proportion of SOC sequestration in the ecosystem C 

sequestration averaged 14.1% globally, being the highest (27.0%) in the warm 

temperate and the lowest (10.7%) in the tropical climatic zones. The proportion 

was mainly affected by latitude. The sink rate of ABC (RABC) in tropical climates 

(2.48 Mg C ha−1 yr−1) and the sink rate of SOC (RSOC) in warm temperate 

climates (0.96 Mg C ha−1 yr−1) were higher than other climatic zones. The 

main determinants of RSOC were the number of frost-free days, latitude, mean 

annual precipitation (MAP), and soil organic carbon density (SOCD) at the 

initial observation; however, these variables depended on the climatic zone. 

According to the SEM, frost-free period MAT, and MAP are the dominant driving 

factors affecting RSOC in Chinese plantations. MAT has an positive effect on 

RSOC, and global warming may increase RSOC of temperate plantations in China. 

[The authors’] findings highlight the determinants of SOC sequestration and 

quantitatively reveal the substantial global contribution of SOC sequestration to 

ecosystem carbon sink provided by planted forests. [The authors’] results help 

managers identify and control key factors to increase carbon sequestration in 

forest ecosystems.” Shiqiang Wang and Yao Huang, Global Change Biology.

(Subscription may be required.)

Projected trends of soil organic carbon stocks in Meghalaya state of 

Northeast Himalayas, India. Implications for a policy perspective.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Agricultural and forestry 

activities can affect soil organic carbon (SOC) levels and CO2 emissions from 

terrestrial ecosystems due to land use changes. In Northeast Himalayas, studies 

on the effects of forest conversion to temporary agricultural lands (jhum) on the 

loss of SOC and soil quality degradation have received the attention of policy 

makers and scientific research. Presently, local communities are now oriented 

towards the settled plantations systems with modern cash crops such as tea 

and rubber, that could act as potential SOC sinks. However, no information on 

SOC dynamics and simulation studies after land-use change from temporary 

agricultural lands (jhum) to settled cultivations and under climate change (CC) 

conditions are available for the Meghalaya state. Applying the RothC model, 

[the authors] focused on four different scenarios including the conversion 

from jhum to settled cultivation (rubber plantations and tea gardens), as well 

as continuous jhum cultivation and jhum to jhum with a period of secondary 

succession. Simulations under CC conditions indicated that SOC stocks 

significantly increased by 1.20 t C ha−1 yr−1 in tea gardens compared to 

rubber and jhum scenarios. Conversely, SOC stocks slightly decreased by 

0.07 t C ha−1 yr−1 in rubber plantations, while the regrowth of a natural 

vegetation cover as secondary succession following the abandonment of the 

jhum fields, showed a lower SOC decrease (0.18 t C ha−1 yr−1) compared to 

the continuous jhum cultivation (0.24 t C ha−1 yr−1). Thus, for CC mitigation 

in a policy perspective, tea gardens could represent the best land use to store 

increasing amounts of SOC in the long-term perspective and optimize farmers’ 

incomes, while in rubber plantations SOC storage is limited in time. Jhum

cultivation can benefit in terms of productivity and profitability by extending the 

duration of the secondary succession period.” Gaurav Mishra, Krishna Giri, 

Abhishek Jangir, and Rosa Francaviglia, Science of The Total Environment. 

(Subscription may be required.)

Ten-year long-term organic fertilization enhances carbon 

sequestration and calcium-mediated stabilization of aggregateassociated organic carbon in a reclaimed Cambisol.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Soils play a vital role in the 

global carbon (C) cycle, yet little is known about the calcium (Ca)-mediated 

stabilization of soil organic carbon (SOC) in calcareous soils. With wet sieving, 

density fractionation and an incubation experiment from field soils, [the 

authors] investigated the effects of long-term fertilization on the Ca-mediated 

stabilization of aggregate-associated organic C and on the SOC stock at a soil 

depth of 0–20 cm in a reclaimed Cambisol on the Loess Plateau of China. 

Compared to the initial soil, after ten years the SOC stock increased by 50%, 

76%, 94% and 110% in soils amended with no fertilizer (control), 100% 

chemical fertilizer, 50% chemical fertilizer plus 50% chicken manure compost 

and 100% chicken manure compost, respectively. The specific C mineralization 

rate (SCMR, rate per unit SOC) decreased as silt and clay > macroaggregate 

> microaggregate, indicating that SOC in microaggregates was more stable 

than in macroaggregates and the silt and clay fraction. The exchangeable Ca 
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October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

in the bulk soil (P < 0.001) and soil aggregates (P < 0.001) were positively 

correlated with the SOC, whereas the Ca carbonate (CaCO3) was negatively 

correlated with the SCMR (P < 0.001). The application of compost not only 

increased the exogenous C inputs but also promoted the transformation of 

CaCO3 to exchangeable Ca compared with the sole chemical fertilization. 

Furthermore, organic fertilization significantly increased the organic C in the 

heavy fraction (> 2.0 g cm−3) compared with the sole chemical fertilization, 

which was positively correlated with the mass proportion of macroaggregates 

(P < 0.001). These results indicate that organic fertilization can enhance the 

availability of Ca for C binding possibly by forming organo-Ca complexes, 

which in turn improve soil aggregation, and thus contribute to a long-term 

SOC sequestration in reclaimed soils of the Loess Plateau of China.” Xiaolei 

Huang, Zhixin Jia, Junjie Guo, Tingliang Li, Dasheng Sun, Huisheng Meng, 

Guanghui Yu, Xinhua, He, Wei Ran, Shusheng Zhang, Jianping Hong, and 

Qirong Shen, Geoderma. (Subscription may be required.) 

Effects of the EU Emission Trading Scheme on the international 

competitiveness of pulp-and-paper industry.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “[The authors] designed 

an interactive item between the EU ETS dummy and the number of patent 

applications to represent the EU ETS’s indirect effect. Then, based on the panel 

data of 42 countries’ pulp-and-paper industry from 1998 to 2013, [the authors] 

conducted the test by using the system generalized method of moments to 

address the endogeneity problem. The results show that the EU ETS’s direct 

effect is insignificant, while its indirect effect is significantly positive. That is, 

the EU ETS can bring positive effect by stimulating the pulp-and-paper making 

enterprises toward technological innovation. [The authors’] analysis further 

finds that this indirect effect changes from being insignificant in Phase I to 

be significantly positive in Phase II and Phase III as well as gradually become 

larger, suggesting that the ETS-induced innovation gradually became more 

prominent. The above findings provide convincing new evidence that the ETS’s 

‘innovative compensation effect’ is greater than its cost-effect.” Weiming 

Lin, Jianling Chen, Yi Zheng, and Yongwu Dai, Forest Policy and Economics. 

(Subscription may be required.)

Competitive strategies for original equipment manufacturers 

considering carbon cap and trade.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “This paper considers 

an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) faces competition from an 

independent remanufacturer (IR) and they both are regulated by carbon cap 

and trade policy (CTP). [The authors] develop models to explore the OEM’s 

optimal competitive strategy in the face of IR’s competition and environmental 

regulation. [The authors] first investigate the impact of CTP on the OEM and 

IR. Then, [the authors] analyze three competitive strategies that the OEM 

may choose: remanufacturing, fixed-fee licensing, and royalty licensing. [The 

authors] investigate their optimal decisions under each strategy and identify 

the conditions under which these strategies can coordinate the OEM and IR. 

Finally, [the authors] explore conditions under which [their] strategy is superior 

to another. The results show that the OEM is worse off when competing with 

the IR under CTP if the carbon cap allocated to the OEM is small. Fixedfee licensing and royalty licensing can coordinate the OEM and IR not only 

from an economic perspective but also from an environmental perspective. 

The OEM’s optimal competitive strategy is determined by thresholds of three 

critical parameters: the fixed cost of setting up a remanufacturing system, 

the fixed-fee, and the per-unit royalty. [The authors] provide specific guidance 

on strategy selection for the OEM.” Qiangfei Chai, Zhongdong Xiao, and 

Guanghui Zhou, Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment. 

(Subscription may be required.)

APRIL 2020

Natural Gas Combined Cycle Carbon Capture Retrofit Database.

The following is a description of this DOE/NETL document: “This tool provides 

high-level analysis on the incremental costs for retrofitting point sources 

with carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and/or compression systems. Options are 

available to include costs of other technological improvements that would be 

required to comply with various regulations and New Source Performance 

Standards when installing CO2 scrubbing technology.”

Innovating to Net Zero.

The following is from the Executive Summary of this Energy Systems Catapult 

document: “Meeting the UK’s Net Zero target will require unprecedented 

innovation across the economy. Innovation not just in new technologies, 

but in new ways of deploying existing technologies, new business models, 

new consumer offerings, and, crucially, new policy, regulation and market 

design. Unleashing innovation at the pace and scale needed requires a deep 

understanding of how the different parts of the energy system interact; in 

short, taking a whole system approach. This report updates Energy Systems 

Catapult’s national Energy System Modelling Environment (ESME) to consider 

the potential pathways to 2050, and to help identify the technologies, products 

and services which are most important to meeting Net Zero. It recommends 

what needs to happen during this Parliament to deliver Net Zero levels of 

investment, infrastructure and innovation. While the challenge is daunting, the 

commercial opportunity for those companies able to deliver the innovations 

needed is huge. This analysis will help identify those opportunities, and what 

may be needed to unlock them.”

Leveraging operational information from wastewater injection wells to 

evaluate CO2 injection performance for carbon storage applications in 

the Appalachian Basin.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Geologic parameters, 

geophysical logging, injection testing, and operational metrics from 

wastewater injection wells were integrated to develop a preliminary design 

of a carbon storage facility in the Appalachian Basin. A scattered group of 

10–20 commercial wastewater injection wells dispose off produced water 

from oil and gas wells in the region, utilizing a sequence of stacked deep 

saline formations for injection zones. These wastewater injection wells provide 

practical benchmarks for understanding the feasibility of carbon dioxide (CO2) 

storage. Geologic models were developed based on characterization data 

from the wastewater injection wells. Reservoir simulations were calibrated 

according to injection testing and operational data from the wastewater 

injection wells. Long-term operational data on injection flow rates and 

pressures measured in the wastewater injection wells were especially useful to 

evaluate the performance of carbon storage applications. The simulations were 

used to estimate injection pressures, radius of CO2 saturation, and pressure 

response for industrial scale CO2 storage applications. Results were also used 

to provide a design basis in terms of number of injection wells, well spacing, 

area of review, injection system components, monitoring plan, and CO2 pipeline 

distribution system. The analysis demonstrates that there is sufficient injectivity 

in the deep saline formations in the west-central Appalachian Basin to store 

commercial volumes of anthropogenic CO2. The geologic system appears 

suitable for supporting CO2 injection rates of 0.5–1.0 million metric tons per 

year at injection pressures below formation fracture pressure in a single well. 

The long-term operational data of wastewater injection wells within the study 

area suggested a lower permeability-thickness values than indicated by initial 

reservoir tests. A workflow for developing realistic permeability values for input 

into reservoir simulations is presented.” Manoj Valluri, Joel Sminchak, Lydia 

Cumming, Joel Main, and Glenn Larsen, Greenhouse Gases: Science and 

Technology. (Subscription may be required.)
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Large CO2 Storage Volumes Result in Net Negative Emissions for 

Greenhouse Gas Life Cycle Analysis Based on Records from 22 Years 

of CO2-Enhanced Oil Recovery Operations.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Emissions were documented 

in a greenhouse gas emission life cycle analysis of 22 years of CO2-enhanced 

oil recovery (CO2-EOR) operations for a site in the Northern Michigan Basin, 

U.S. At the site, CO2 was cycled through a series of 10 carbonate reef 

structures 1500–2000 m deep in the subsurface. The CO2 mobilized oil in the 

reefs, and the operator produced [294,321 metric tons (2,290,000 barrels)] 

of oil with CO2-EOR at the site from 1996 to 2017. In the process, a total 

of [2,089,000] metric tons of CO2 were stored in the deep rock formations, 

which is a very large volume for CO2-EOR applications of this scale. The 

life cycle analysis accounted for greenhouse gas emissions related to CO2

capture, compression, pipeline transport, CO2 injection, oil processing, CO2

recycle, dehydration, fugitive emissions, construction, land use, well drilling, oil 

transport, oil refining, hydrocarbon product combustion, and other processes. 

The analysis was based on site-specific operational records such as natural 

gas usage, drilling records, and system flow metering. Altogether, the upstream 

CO2 capture, ‘gate-to-gate’ CO2-EOR operations, and downstream fuel product 

refining/combustion had total emissions of [1,929,443] metric tons of CO2

equivalent. Thus, the life cycle analysis showed [−159,907] metric tons of 

CO2 equivalent net balance for the CO2-EOR system for 1996–2017. The 

CO2-EOR system obtains CO2 from a gas processing facility that separates 

CO2 from natural gas produced in the area, and the CO2 would be otherwise 

vented to the atmosphere. A ready source of CO2 that allowed a large volume of 

associated CO2 storage, compressors that run on natural gas, a small pipeline 

distribution network, highly contained reservoirs, and government incentives 

to encourage CO2 storage also contributed to the lower CO2 emission balance 

when compared to other CO2-EOR life cycle studies. While this site had many 

favorable factors to result in net negative emissions, it provides an example 

of managing CO2-EOR operations and optimizing associated CO2 storage to 

reduce net greenhouse gas emissions.” Joel R. Sminchak, Sanjay Mawalkar, 

and Neeraj Gupta, Energy & Fuels. (Subscription may be required.)

Comparing the explicit and implicit attitudes of energy stakeholders 

and the public towards carbon capture and storage.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Research on the attitudes 

of energy stakeholders and the general public towards Carbon Capture 

and Storage is a necessary starting point for the industry to understand the 

development trajectory of the technology. However, previous studies have 

only used explicit approaches, such as self-report questionnaires, to measure 

attitudes. Some researchers have argued that explicit measures are not able 

to reflect participants’ true thoughts. To investigate the potential gap between 

the results of explicit tests and the true attitudes of participants, this study 

uses the implicit association test, to detect the attitudes towards environmental 

technology for the first time (to [the authors’] knowledge), by comparing the 

explicit and implicit attitudes of energy stakeholders and the public towards 

carbon capture and storage. The results indicate that energy stakeholders 

hold favorable attitudes, whereas public vary across the two tests. Public show 

supportive attitudes in the explicit test, but present their concerns about the 

risk of carbon capture and storage in the implicit test. The inconsistencies 

between the explicit and implicit test results among the public indicate that 

researchers need to be very cautious about the method they use to understand 

attitudes towards carbon capture and storage as well as other environmental 

technologies. Further, [the authors] suggested that implicit association test 

would be an effective and easy-to-use approach to complement traditional 

explicit tests to discover participants’ real attitudes towards environmental 

technologies in the future research.” Yan Sun, Yang Li, Bo-feng Cai, and 

Qi Li, Journal of Cleaner Production. (Subscription may be required.)

The permitting procedure for CO2 geological storage for research 

purposes in a deep saline aquifer in Spain.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Most European Member 

States that transposed the EU Directive 2009/31/CE on geological storage of 

carbon dioxide to each national legislation have not yet developed a regulatory 

framework to govern the permitting process of this industrial activity. This 

scenario does not help the deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) 

technologies, as regulators, administrations, operators and general public do 

not handle a clear compendium of rules and standards to follow. This lack of 

regulation affects even more to the on-shore sites, which are usually surrounded 

by communities, industries, farms and other environmental elements that 

require the compliance of regulations to assure safe and controlled industrial 

processes. This article describes and analyses the workflow followed for 

granting the storage permit of Hontomín Technology Development Plant (TDP) 

in Spain. Hontomín is today the only onshore CO2 injection site in Europe, 

recognized by the European Parliament as a key test facility for CCS technology 

development. The authors aim to show the experience gained from this real 

case as a guideline for regulators, operators and administrations to facilitate 

the grant of storage permits for supporting the development of industrial scale 

projects.” J. Carlos de Dios and Roberto Martínez, International Journal of 

Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

An economic-environmental asset planning in electric distribution 

networks considering carbon emission trading and demand response.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Initiatives such as government 

programs and investment in low-carbon technologies have been adopted 

to mitigate the carbon emissions in the electricity sector. These initiatives 

have resulted in new challenges in the power sector, and to address them 

adequately, innovative frameworks are required in the electric distribution 

network (EDN) expansion planning and operation problems. Therefore, this 

work proposes an environmentally committed asset planning approach to 

remedy the existing issues to some extent. The proposed strategy investigates 

the benefits of the simultaneous allocation of several assets such as capacitor 

banks (CBs), distributed generation (DG) units based on renewable energy 

sources, and energy storage systems (ESSs). Moreover, an innovative carbon 

emission trading scheme is formulated in the planning stage to mitigate the 

CO2 emissions while a demand response program is applied to modify the 

consumption behavior. The proposed approach is formulated as a two-stage 

robust mixed-integer programming model, which considers uncertainties 

associated with the electricity demand and renewable-based DG. To cope 

with the difficulties of this complex model, utilizing an efficient decomposition 

algorithm, such as the C&CG decomposition algorithm, is essential. The 

potential of the proposed approach is studied under different operating 

conditions and via several test cases on a 137-node EDN. In addition, to 

validate the performance of the proposed carbon emission scheme, a multiregion 54-node distribution network is adequately evaluated. Results show that 

by considering simultaneously multiple planning alternatives, carbon emission 

trading scheme, and the demand response program, the total CO2 emissions 

are reduced by up to 15%.” Ozy D. Melgar-Dominguez, Mahdi PourakbariKasmaei, Matti Lehtonen, and José R. Sanches Mantovani, Electric Power 

Systems Research. (Subscription may be required.)

Price dynamics in the European Union Emissions Trading System and 

evaluation of its ability to boost emission-related investment decisions.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The price of permits in the 

European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) has historically been 

highly sensitive and prone to jumps. [The authors] consider different stochastic 

processes to model the price of permits, and show that the Variance Gamma 

(VG) model provides the best fit for the price distribution, among a selection 

of infinite activity processes. Using this result as a starting point, [the authors] 

assess the effects of the EU ETS in delivering low-carbon investments at the 

firm level, by modeling a price taker electricity producer subject to the EU 

ETS jurisdiction. [The authors] compute, via Least Squares Monte Carlo, the 

value of the real option the greenhouse gas emitter has, consisting in the 

opportunity to switch from its current high-carbon technology to a cleaner one. 

[The authors] use a VG specification for carbon prices, and a mean-reverting 

(Brennan–Schwartz) process for the price of fuel. Moreover, [the authors] 

further analyze the investment decision problem, in case of a CO2 price 

stabilization mechanism in the form of a price floor, by explicitly computing 

the expected value of the investment project by means of Fourier methods. 

[The authors’] results show that the introduction of the price stabilization 

mechanism significantly affects the timing of the investment decision, and 

supports emission-related investments.” Maria Flora and Tiziano Vargiolu, 

European Journal of Operational Research. (Subscription may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

35

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

Flexible Carbon Capture and Utilization technologies in future energy 

systems and the utilization pathways of captured CO2.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Future 100% renewable 

energy systems will have to integrate different sectors, including provision of 

power, heating, cooling and transport. Such energy systems will be needed 

to mitigate the negative impacts of economic development based on the use 

of fossil fuels, but will rely on variable renewable energy resources. As twothirds of global greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to fossil fuel 

combustion, decarbonization of energy systems is imperative for combating 

the climate change. Integrating future energy systems with CO2 capture and 

utilization technologies can contribute to deep decarbonization. As these 

technologies can be operated flexibly, they can be used to balance the grid 

to allow for high levels of variable renewable energy in the power mix. The 

captured CO2 can be either utilized as a feedstock for various value-added 

applications in the chemical industry and related sectors such as the food 

and beverage industries. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art literature on 

CO2 capture and utilization technologies, with an emphasis on their potential 

integration into a low-carbon, high-renewables penetration grid. The potential 

market size for CO2 as raw material is also elaborated and discussed. The 

review paper provides an insight to the development and the technological 

needs of different energy system sectors, as well the limitations, challenges 

and research gaps to the integration of the variable renewable energy sources 

and flexible carbon capture and utilization technologies.” Hrvoje Mikulčić, Iva 

Ridjan Skov, Dominik Franjo Dominković, Sharifah Rafidah Wan Alwi, 

Zainuddin Abdul Manan, Raymond Tan, Neven Duić, Siti Nur Hidayah 

Mohamad, and Xuebin Wang, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 

(Subscription may be required.)

Improved Vinegar & Wellington calibration for estimation of fluid 

saturation and porosity from CT images for a core flooding test under 

geologic carbon storage conditions.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “X-ray computed tomography 

(CT) of fluid flow in formation rocks is an important characterization technique 

in geologic carbon sequestration research to provide insight into the migration 

and capillary trapping of CO2 under reservoir conditions. An improved 

calibration method adapted from traditional Vinegar & Wellington calibration is 

proposed to map the 3D pore and fluid distributions from the CT images of CO2/

brine displacement flooding. Similar to Vinegar & Wellington calibration, the 

proposed method adopts the linear scaling law of CT number transformation 

to mass density. However, different from Vinegar & Wellington calibration that 

uses a 100% brine-saturated core image and a 100% CO2-saturated core 

image as references to calculate CO2 and brine saturations at all time steps, 

the proposed method uses the CT numbers of CO2 and brine to calculate the 

incremental of CO2 and brine saturations from time step i to time step i +1. 

The method is intended for cases in which the two 100% brine saturation 

and 100% CO2 saturation images can not be successfully obtained. Overall, 

the improved calibration proposed by this study presents more reasonable 

results of CO2 and brine distribution in a Berea sandstone core, as compared to 

traditional Vinegar & Wellington calibration. The reconstructed porosity image 

agrees with the laminated structure of the Berea sandstone core, and the 

average porosity evaluated over the entire core (0.176) is comparable to the 

physical porosity (0.165). Furthermore, the reconstructed saturation images 

using the improved calibration reveal a flat piston-like flooding front from a 

homogeneous longitudinal-section of the 3D orthogonal view and preferential 

fingerings from another non-homogeneous longitudinal-section, which are 

not present in the reconstructed saturation images using traditional Vinegar & 

Wellington calibration. Concerns and causes with respect to the uncertainty of 

linear CT number calibration are also explained, and approaches to alleviate 

the uncertainty are suggested.” Xiuxiu Miao, Yan Wang, Liwei Zhang, Ning 

Wei, and Xiaochun Li, Micron. (Subscription may be required.)

Towards carbon sequestration using stainless steel slag via phase 

modification and co-extraction of calcium and magnesium.

The following is the abstract of this article: “Iron– and steelmaking processes 

produce a large quantities of greenhouse gas and metallurgical slag. Using 

Ca/Mg–rich phases in the slag to capture and bind the CO2 via mineral 

carbonation is a promising approach to reduction of emissions and solid 

wastes to be landfilled. However, Cr–bearing stainless steel slag (SSS) 

cannot straightforwardly be employed for carbon capture and storage (CCS) 

or rather carbon capture and utilization (CCU). For the dual–purpose of 

chromium immobilization and co–extraction of calcium and magnesium, a 

slag modification using added MnO is performed followed by an acid leaching 

treatment. Results show that the MnO content has a significant influence 

on the phase composition and element distribution of SSS. A Box–Behnken 

design (BBD) based acid leaching treatment of SSS is investigated and 

optimized. Second-order polynomial regression models that reveal a functional 

relationship between processing parameters and leaching yields of calcium and 

magnesium are established and verified by the analysis of variance (ANOVA). 

Model calculation results show a good agreement with the experimental data. 

The direct (linear) and cross-correlated effects of the processing parameters 

on the leaching yields are illustrated by three-dimensional (3D) response 

surfaces. The maximum leaching yields of calcium and magnesium obtained 

in this work are 65 % and 55 %, respectively, while for chromium the leached 

amounts are well below legislative limits.” Qing Zhao, Kun Liu, Lifeng Sun, 

Chengjun Liu, Maofa Jiang, Henrik Saxén, and Ron Zevenhoven, Process 

Safety and Environmental Protection. (Subscription may be required.) 

Understanding public support for carbon capture and storage policy: 

The roles of social capital, stakeholder perceptions, and perceived 

risk/benefit of technology.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “As climate change mitigation 

technologies emerge, there is an increased need to understand public support 

for the technology and the policies that will shape or thwart its evolution. 

Of particular importance are the communities most directly impacted. The 

current study focuses on a random sample of 970 adults in eight counties 

within the oil and gas industry-reliant region of southeast Texas in order to 

explore support for carbon capture and storage (CCS), which is a climate 

change mitigation technology that has seen a great deal of investment in that 

area. Results of ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis and general 

linear modeling (GLM) suggest that policy support – individual support and 

perceived community support – is dependent on perceived risks and benefits 

of CCS, community-focused perceptions (including Bourdieu’s social capital), 

and perceptions about stakeholders (trustworthiness and expected role in CCS 

policy making). One key takeaway is that social capital was both a predictor 

and moderator in community-level CCS support and helped explain the hidden 

effects of risk perception of CCS and CCS knowledge on community-level CCS 

support. Implications for public policy and stakeholder relations are discussed.” 

Won-Ki Moon, Lee Ann Kahlor, and Hilary Clement Olson, Energy Policy. 

(Subscription may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

36

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

MAY 2020

Safe Geologic Storage of Captured Carbon Dioxide: Two Decades of 

DOE’s Carbon Storage R&D Program in Review.

The following is from the Executive Summary of this DOE/NETL document: 

“Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is widely regarded as a 

necessary component in the global effort to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) 

emissions to the atmosphere in a cost-effective way. A key question about 

the viability of CCUS with respect to protection of human health and the 

environment is how to ensure that CO2 injected in deep geologic reservoirs 

is securely stored. Geological storage of CO2 has been a natural process in 

the Earth’s upper crust for hundreds of millions of years. While this provides 

supporting evidence that CO2 can be securely and safely contained in the deep 

subsurface, it is vitally important that the technical means exist to identify 

suitable sites and monitor stored CO2 to verify secure containment. The U.S. 

Department of Energy (DOE) has invested more than $1 billion during the 

past two decades through its Carbon Storage Research and Development 

(R&D) Program to develop the technologies and capabilities for widespread 

commercial deployment of geologic storage. This investment has made DOE 

a leader in this worldwide effort. CCUS projects supported by DOE and other 

organizations around the world, which in 2019 injected more than 25 million 

metric tons of CO2, have shown no adverse impacts to human health or the 

environment. And no DOE supported project has observed migration of CO2

outside of the intended storage reservoir or confining cap rock. Increasing 

years of experience and a preponderance of successful projects will promote 

even further confidence in secure storage for operators, regulators, insurers, 

financial institutions, environmental groups, and the public.”

Industrial Sources Carbon Capture Retrofit Database.

The following is a description of this DOE/NETL database: “This tool provides 

high-level analysis on the incremental costs for retrofitting point sources with 

carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and/or compression systems applied to various 

high purity industrial CO2 sources. Options are available to include costs of 

other technological improvements that would be required to comply with 

various regulations and New Source Performance Standards when installing 

CO2 scrubbing technology.”

Assessment of CO2-enhanced oil recovery and associated geologic 

storage potential in the Michigan Northern Pinnacle Reef Trend.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “This paper provides an 

improved estimate of CO2-EOR (where CO2 is carbon dioxide and EOR is 

enhanced oil recovery) and CO2 storage potential for depleted oil fields in 

Michigan’s northern pinnacle reef trend (NPRT). [The authors’] methodology 

is based on capturing data on reservoir performance from reefs currently 

undergoing CO2-EOR operations in the NPRT (referred to as ‘monitored reefs’), 

and then applying them to other reefs within the NPRT (referred to as ‘catalog 

reefs’). For each monitored reef, [the authors] calculate fractional primary 

recovery, fractional incremental EOR recovery, net utilization ratio, and storage 

efficiency factor. The corresponding incremental oil recovery from EOR, storage 

capacity until end of EOR, and total CO2 injection needs are then estimated for 

each catalog reef and combined (over all monitored reefs) using a weighted 

averaging procedure. These weights are related to a statistical similarity 

measure that is calculated between each monitored reef and each catalog 

reef based on a number of variables related to production data, formation type, 

or descriptive geologic attributes. For the entire NPRT catalog of 383 reefs 

as used in this study, [the authors’] results indicate 118 million (MM) stock 

tank barrels (STB) (1.88 × 107

 Sm3) of incremental oil from EOR operations, 

corresponding to 49 MM metric tons (MT) of CO2 storage and 266 MM MT 

of total CO2 injection. However, approximately one-third of the reefs provide 

two-thirds of the potential for CO2-EOR and geologic storage, assuming an 

economic threshold of 0.5 MM STB (80 000 Sm3) of incremental oil from 

EOR.” Srikanta Mishra, Autumn Haagsma, Manoj Valluri, and Neeraj Gupta, 

Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology. (Subscription may be required.)

Carbon dioxide storage resource assessment of Cretaceous- and 

Jurassic-age sandstones in the Atlantic offshore region of the 

northeastern United States.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Carbon capture and storage is 

a critical technology for ensuring a range of clean energy options are available 

to meet future energy demand in the United States and abroad. A total of 

1079 industrial CO2 emission sources are located in the northeastern United 

States, where challenging surface and subsurface conditions limit onshore 

CO2 storage potential. A systematic resource assessment was conducted 

using industry-standard resource classification methods established by the 

Society of Petroleum Engineers’ Storage Resources Management System to 

characterize CO2 storage resources in the middle–northern Atlantic offshore 

region along the eastern United States. Storable CO2 quantities and storage 

efficiencies were estimated for Cretaceous- and Jurassic-age sandstone 

sequences. Regional data integration and analysis were conducted to estimate 

storable quantities and storage efficiencies using probabilistic methods with 

static volumetric calculations and dynamic simulations. Offshore storage 

efficiencies range from 1% to 13%, with regional-scale estimates of 37–403 

billion t (Gt) of CO2 classified as prospective storage resources. Dynamic CO2

injection simulation in a middle Cretaceous sequence on the eastern flank of 

the Great Stone Dome suggests 30–51 million t of CO2 can be stored and 

contained within the time and pressure constraints assumed for a commercial 

storage project. The regional Cretaceous and Jurassic plays identified in 

the offshore study region have prospective storage resources sufficient for 

long-term storage of CO2 from nearby industrial sources onshore. Continued 

resource discovery efforts are recommended to assess the development and 

commerciality of the potential storage identified near the Great Stone Dome.” 

Isis Fukai, Laura Keister, Priya Ravi Ganesh, Lydia Cumming, Will Fortin, and 

Neeraj Gupta, Environmental Geosciences. (Subscription may be required.)

An analysis of research hotspots and modeling techniques on carbon 

capture and storage.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “With the significant role that 

carbon capture and storage (CCS) could play in limiting the future temperature 

increase to below 2°C higher than pre-industrialization levels, a growing 

research interest of CCS is attracted to the environmental, economic, and 

social field. However, a bibliometric analysis-based comprehensive review of 

CCS which covers mainly all industry sectors and all regions of the globe has 

not been made yet. To provide deeper insight into the research trends, this 

study employs a bibliometric analysis to examine the basic features of the 

literature from 1997 to 2017 and identifies the key research hotspots and 

modeling techniques by reviewing the current status and new efforts. Based 

on the analysis of the temporal and spatial trends, disciplines and journals 

distribution, institutions, authors, and citations, the publications relating to 

the environmental, economic and social aspects of CCS are assessed. The 

results indicate that the total number of publications has rapidly increased 

since 2006 and entered a stable stage. The most productive country, journal, 

institute, and author are the USA, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas 

Control, United State Department of Energy, and Rubin E S, respectively. Based 

on the co-occurrence analysis of keywords, five hot research topics in CCS are 

recognized, including tackling climate change, CCS technology prospects, cost 

estimates, sectoral applications, and social attitudes. In addition, three main 

methodologies including life cycle analysis, optimization methods, and real 

options methods used in quantifying the social, economic, and environmental 

impacts of CCS are thoroughly refined based on selection, limitation, and 

improvement. Finally, the recommendations for CCS future work concerning 

environmental, economic, and social aspects are proposed.” Hui Li, Hong-Dian 

Jiang, Bo Yang, and Hua Liao, Science of the Total Environment. (Subscription 

may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

37

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

Time-lapse gravity monitoring of CO2 migration based 

on numerical modeling of a faulted storage complex.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “In this study, the performance 

of both surface and borehole time-lapse gravity monitoring to detect CO2

leakage from a carbon storage site is evaluated. Several hypothetical scenarios 

of CO2 migration in a leaky fault, and thief zones at different depths at the 

Kimberlina site (California, USA) constitute the basis of the approach. The CO2

displacement is simulated using the TOUGH2 simulator applied to a detailed 

geological model of the site. The gravity responses to these CO2 plumes are 

simulated using forward modeling with sensors at ground surface and in 

vertical boreholes. Results of inversion on one scenario are also presented. The 

surface-based gravity responses obtained for the different leakage scenarios 

demonstrate that leakage can be detected at the surface in all the scenarios 

but the time to detection is highly variable (10–40 years) and dependent on 

the detection threshold considered. Borehole measurements of the vertical 

component of gravity provide excellent constraints in depth when they are 

located in proximity of the density anomaly associated with the presence of 

CO2, thus discriminating multiple leaks in different thief zones. Joint inversion 

of surface and borehole data can bring valuable information of the occurrence 

of leakages and their importance by providing a reasonable estimate of mass 

of displaced fluids. This study demonstrates the importance of combining 

multiphase flow simulations with gravity modeling in order to define if and 

when gravity monitoring would be applicable at a given storage site.” Delphine 

Appriou, Alain Bonneville, Quanlin Zhou, and Erika Gasperikova, International 

Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

Possibilities for CCUS in medium temperature geothermal reservoir.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Based on the hypothetical 

structure, a 3D numerical simulation model was created to examine the flow 

characteristics of a geothermal field. According to the known dimensions, 

assumption of existing fault and petrophysical properties, the model can relate 

to the properties of Velika Ciglena geothermal reservoir, and thus the simulation 

results of heat flow (reservoir cooling due to reinjection of cooled water), 

wellbore injectivity and productivity are comparable with previously published 

data related to the same field. This simulation model for a geothermal reservoir 

of such structure has been made for the first time and was complemented 

by an analysis of possible CO2 injection. It has been established that the 

effect of CO2 storage is significant until CO2 reaches the production well (first 

two years). The effect of pressure relief on the CO2 injection well has been 

achieved because of simultaneous injection and production and due to an 

increase in CO2 saturation which had consequently induced an increase of the 

effective permeability for CO2. The effect of reservoir cooling is shown, which 

is significant only when the water is injected, while in the case of injection 

and production of CO2, this effect does not reflect on the temperature of the 

produced fluid.” Domagoj Vulin, Lejla Muhasilović, and Maja Arnaut, Energy. 

(Subscription may be required.)

A study on the thermal-hydrodynamical-coupled CO2 flow process 

in the Ordos CCS-geological-formation.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Non-isothermal flow in 

wellbores and geological formations is an important process associated with 

geologic storage of CO2. Technically, simulation of it is a highly challenging 

task as it often encounters phase transition problems for the fluids involved, 

which may greatly influence the profiles of pressure, temperature, and flowrate 

along the wellbore and consequently changes the injectivity of the relevant 

gas injection. In this paper [the authors] present a coupled non-isothermal 

wellbore/reservoir model for simulating the relevant flow behaviors, in which 

the non-isothermal wellbore flow model CO2Well and the reservoir simulator 

TOUGH2/ECO2N are combined to form a novel coupled flow model. The model 

developed is compared and verified by the existing wellbore-reservoir simulator 

T2Well with two CO2 injection examples. These examples demonstrate that 

the present method has considerable computational advantages in simulating 

wellbore flows when phase transition occurs. [The authors] then apply this 

model to the Ordos CCS demonstration project in China, and investigate the 

sophisticated, thermal-hydrodynamically-coupled flow processes observed 

there owning to injection of the condensed, cold CO2 that was directly captured 

from a nearby coal liquefaction plant. The results obtained by the simulation, 

along with the relevant field observations, provide in-depth insights into the 

CO2 flow behaviors in both the wellbore and the geological formation. For 

example, the simulation revealed that, in the wellbore, the heat exchange 

between the injected CO2 and the surrounding rock plays a critical role for the 

temperature distribution. It was also observed that phase transition occurred 

in the transferred period between the injection time and the shut-in time. In 

addition, both the simulation and field observation showed that most CO2

injected entered the topmost layer due to the high transmissivity of the rock. 

The simulation also showed that the temperature-change zone travelled slower 

than the CO2 plume. For example, the CO2 plume extended to 430 m away 

from the injection site after 31 months of CO2 injection, while the temperaturechange zone extended merely about 90 m away, much smaller than that of 

the CO2 plume. The simulation suggests that the injectivity at this site is about 

0.83 kg/(MPa·s). The simulation also suggests that the injection temperature 

should be relatively high (e.g., above −3°C if the injection rate is more than 

9.45 kg/s) to avoid formation of CO2 hydrate in the subsurface.” Hongwu Lei, 

Yuna Cai, Meng Lu, Xiaochun Li, and Luke Daulton Connell, International 

Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.) 

Materials and logistics for carbon dioxide capture, 

storage and utilization.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The efforts to curtail carbon 

dioxide presence in the atmosphere are a strong function of the available 

technologies to capture, store and usefully utilize it. Materials with adequate CO2

sorption kinetics that are both effective and economical are of prime importance 

for the whole capture system to be built around. This work identifies such 

materials that are currently used in CO2 adsorption beds/columns at different 

global locations, along with their vital operational parameters, logistics and 

costs. Three main classes of materials currently in use to that end are discussed 

in detail here, namely solid sorbents, advanced solvents membrane systems. 

These materials are then compared in terms of their potential CO2 uptake, 

operating parameters and ease of use and implementation of the respective 

technology. Tabular data are appended to each technology covered with the 

most relevant advantages and disadvantages. With such comprehensive 

survey of the recent state-of-the-art materials, recommendations are also 

made to facilitate the selection of systems based on their CO2 yield, price and 

suitability to the geographical location.” Abdul Hai Alami, Abdullah Abu Hawili, 

Muhammad Tawalbeh, Rita Hasan, Lana Al Mahmoud, Sara Chibib, Anfal 

Mahmood, Kamilia Aokal, and Pawarin Rattanapanya, Science of The Total 

Environment. (Subscription may be required.)

The flow of embodied carbon through the economies of China, 

the European Union, and the United States.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Indirect CO2 emissions are 

gaining increasing interests in addition to direct CO2 emissions, as policy 

makers become more aware of the possibilities for structural and technical 

change, sometimes resulting from policies, to move CO2 emissions along 

supply chains. An analysis of the composition of emissions and carbon 

efficiency of production and their development over time may inform the 

formulation of demand-side and supply-side solutions for emission reduction 

over the entire life-cycle. In addition, understanding of emissions embodied in 

trade (EET) at intermediate and final stages is crucial for allocation of emission 

responsibilities in a fair manner. Hence, [the authors] account for global 

direct and indirect intermediate and final CO2 emissions using the global, 

multiregional input-output model EXIOBASE 3.3. [The authors] present results 

for the flow of embodied carbon through the economies of 49 countries and 

regions using an interactive visualization and provide a comparative analysis of 

China, the US, and the EU. It shows that China has undergone rapid, continuous 

increase in both intermediate and final indirect CO2 emissions compared to the 

other two economies from 1995 to 2015, to 26.1 Pg and 11.0 Pg respectively. 

Emission intensities in China are on average 3.7 times of the US and 2.4 times 

of the EU in the year 2015, implying the possibility of further reducing emission 

by efficiency improvement and fuel switching. CO2 EETs of intermediate 

production by sectors in the three economies are also reported.” Kehan He 

and Edgar G. Hertwich, Resources, Conservation and Recycling. (Subscription 

may be required.) 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

38

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

Inventory management in supply chains with consideration of 

Logistics, green investment and different carbon emissions policies.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “This study investigates the 

effects that carbon policies and green technologies may have on the integrated 

inventory of a two-echelon supply chain with consideration of carbon emissions 

during the processes of product production, transportation, and storage. The 

three carbon emissions policies: limited total carbon emissions, carbon taxation, 

and cap-and-trade, are considered in the study. The proposed model can assist 

firms in determining their corresponding optimal production quantity, delivery 

quantity, and green investment amount with an aim of minimizing the costs 

under different carbon emissions policies. Moreover, this study also provides 

practical implications for the government to make appropriate policies and 

regulations in balancing the trade-off between environmental protection and 

economic growth. Finally, the results indicate that firms adopting the carbon 

tax policy would prefer to invest in a relatively efficient green technology. With 

regard to the sources of carbon emissions, the effects of unit carbon emissions 

during production and unit distance of transportation are the most dramatic, 

and the cap limit has greater effects than the carbon emissions reduction factor 

of the green technology. Besides, the government should set the limit of carbon 

emissions within a reasonable range under the cap-and-trade policy to avoid 

suppliers overly trading their quotas of carbon emissions.” Yeu-Shiang Huang, 

Chih-Chiang Fang, and Ying-An Lin, Computers & Industrial Engineering. 

(Subscription may be required.)

Proglacial freshwaters are significant and previously 

unrecognized sinks of atmospheric CO2.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Carbon dioxide (CO2) 

emissions from freshwater ecosystems are almost universally predicted to 

increase with climate warming. Glacier-fed rivers and lakes, however, differ 

critically from those in nonglacierized catchments in that they receive little 

terrestrial input of organic matter for decomposition and CO2 production, and 

transport large quantities of easily mobilized comminuted sediments available 

for carbonate and silicate weathering reactions that can consume atmospheric 

CO2. [The authors] used a whole-watershed approach, integrating concepts 

from glaciology and limnology, to conclusively show that certain glacier-fed 

freshwater ecosystems are important and previously overlooked annual CO2

sinks due to the overwhelming influence of these weathering reactions. Using 

the glacierized Lake Hazen watershed (Nunavut, Canada, 82°N) as a model 

system, [the authors] found that weathering reactions in the glacial rivers 

actively consumed CO2 up to 42 km downstream of glaciers, and cumulatively 

transformed the High Arctic’s most voluminous lake into an important CO2

sink. In conjunction with data collected at other proglacial freshwater sites 

in Greenland and the Canadian Rockies, [the authors] suggest that CO2

consumption in proglacial freshwaters due to glacial melt-enhanced weathering 

is likely a globally relevant phenomenon, with potentially important implications 

for regional annual carbon budgets in glacierized watershed.” Kyra A. St. 

Pierre, Vincent L. St. Louis, Sherry L. Schiff, Igor Lehnherr, Paul G. Dainard, 

Alex S. Gardner, Pieter J. K. Aukes, and Martin J. Sharp, Proceedings of the 

National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. (Subscription 

may be required.)

JUNE 2020

Computed Tomography Scanning and Geophysical Measurements 

of the T.R. McMillen #2 Core.

The following is from the abstract of this DOE/NETL document: “The computed 

tomography (CT) facilities and the Multi-Sensor Core Logger (MSCL) at the 

National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Morgantown, West Virginia 

were used to characterize core from the Carbon Safe Christian County project, 

T.R. McMillen #2 well (API 1202125650). The primary impetus of this work is 

a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Illinois 

State Geologic Survey at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. The 

resultant datasets are presented in this report, and can be accessed from 

NETL’s Energy Data eXchange (EDX) online system using the following link: 

https://edx.netl.doe.gov/dataset/carbonsafe-tr-mcmillen-2. [...] Imaging with 

the NETL medical CT scanner was performed on the entire core. Qualitative 

analysis of the medical CT images, coupled with X-ray fluorescence (XRF), 

P-wave, and magnetic susceptibility measurements from the MSCL were 

useful in identifying zones of interest for more detailed analysis. The ability to 

quickly identify key areas for more detailed study with higher resolution will 

save time and resources in future studies. The combination of methods used 

provides a multi-scale analysis of the core; the resulting macro and micro 

descriptions are relevant to many subsurface energy related examinations 

traditionally performed at NETL.”

U.S. DOE/NETL large pilot-scale testing of advanced 

carbon capture technologies.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The mission of the United 

States (U.S.) Department of Energy/National Energy Technology Laboratory 

(DOE/NETL) Carbon Capture Program is to develop the next generation 

of advanced CO2 capture concepts for the power-generation sector. The 

Carbon Capture Program employs a down-selection process that graduates 

technologies from a large portfolio of laboratory/bench-scale projects to a 

smaller set of small-scale pilot projects and eventually to an even smaller 

group of large-scale pilot projects. At every scale, computer simulation plays 

a significant role in guiding experimental efforts and accelerating the overall 

pace of technology development. This down-selection process serves to derisk industrial investment, given that there is insufficient information generated 

at the laboratory/bench scale to confidently predict eventual commercial 

success. The Carbon Capture Program is currently engaged in efforts to 

advance the next generation of capture technologies to large pilot scale. Three 

capture technologies have been awarded Phase I projects in a competition 

to build large-scale pilots for advanced energy and post combustion capture 

systems. In addition, six capture technologies are working toward large-scale 

pilot testing at Technology Center Mongstad in Norway. Advances along three 

innovation pathways—materials, processes, and equipment—have been 

critical in preparing these technologies for large pilot-scale testing. This paper 

describes the approach that is being followed by the Carbon Capture Program 

to advance the technologies and provides brief descriptions of the technical 

innovations that have prepared individual technologies for large pilot-scale 

testing.” Lynn Brickett, Ron Munson, and John Litynski, Fuel. (Subscription 

may be required.)

A comparison of carbon dioxide storage resource estimate 

methodologies for a regional assessment of the Northern Niagaran 

Pinnacle Reef Trend in the Michigan Basin.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The Northern Niagaran 

Pinnacle Reef Trend has more than 800 identified Silurian-aged pinnacle reefs 

in the Michigan Basin. The reefs have a long history of oil and gas production, 

gas storage, and more recently successful CO2-enhanced oil recovery (EOR) 

operations. These fields provide an excellent opportunity to evaluate the 

geologic variability in complex carbonate reservoirs and its impact on carbon 

capture, utilization, and storage feasibility. A comprehensive database was 

built that identifies reefs and links key reservoir attributes to each field. Novel 

methodologies and techniques were developed to analyze hundreds of fields 

for CO2 storage and EOR options. This included a regional static earth model 

to compute volumetric-based resource estimates, fluid substitution to estimate 

storage resources from oil and gas production, and proximity analysis–based 

weighting of reefs to predict reservoir performance metrics and estimate EOR. 

Lastly, an enhanced storage scenario of maximizing a reef’s storage potential at 

the end of a CO2-EOR life cycle was evaluated.” Autumn Haagsma, Joel Main, 

Ashwin Pasumarti, Manoj Valluri, Mackenzie Scharenberg, Glenn Larsen, 

Wayne Goodman, Amber Conner, Zachary Cotter, Laura Keister, William 

Harrison, Srikanta Mishra, Rick Pardini, and Neeraj Gupta, Environmental 

Geosciences. (Subscription may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

Development and application of a machine learning based 

multi-objective optimization workflow for CO2-EOR projects.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Carbon dioxide-Enhanced 

Oil Recovery (CO2-EOR) is known as one of techniques for hydrocarbon 

production improvement as wells as an important candidate to reduce 

greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, an ideal development strategy for a CO2-EOR 

project would consider multiple objectives including to maximize oil recovery, 

CO2 storage volume and project economic outcomes. This work proposes a 

robust computational framework that couples artificial neural network (ANN) 

and multi-objective optimizers to optimize the aforementioned objectives in 

CO2-EOR processes simultaneously. Expert ANN systems are trained and 

employed as surrogate models of the high-fidelity compositional simulator in 

the optimization workflow. The robustness of the development optimization 

protocol is confirmed via a synthetic injection-pattern-base case study. 

Afterward a field implementation to Morrow-B formation to optimize the tertiary 

recovery stage of the field development is discussed. This work compares the 

optimum solution found using an aggregate objective function and the solution 

repository (Pareto front) generated by the multi-objective optimization process. 

The comparison indicates the existence of potential multi-solutions satisfying 

certain criteria in a CO2-EOR project designing, which cannot be found using 

traditional weighted sum method. The optimization results provide significant 

insight into the decision-making process of CO2-EOR project when multiple 

objective functions are considered.” Junyu You, William Ampomah, and Qian 

Sun, Fuel. (Subscription may be required.)

Application of bioelectrochemical systems for carbon dioxide 

sequestration and concomitant valuable recovery: A review.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The rise in global 

atmospheric temperature due to increase in the atmospheric carbon dioxide 

concentration needs to be tackled immediately before it reaches the point of 

no return. The application of innovative technologies based on the concepts 

of bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) can contribute in this direction by 

simultaneously sequestrating CO2 and producing value-added products in 

the process. Wastewater treatment with simultaneous bioenergy and biofuel 

recovery is also one of the added [advantages] of employing BESs for CO2

fixation. This review focuses on the potential of employing BES-based 

technologies like microbial carbon capture, plant-microbial fuel cell and 

microbial electrosynthesis cell for the concomitant production of valuables 

and CO2 sequestration. Also, various parameters affecting performance of BES 

that need to be optimized for the proper field-scale demonstration of these 

technologies are discussed.” Sovik Das, Swati Das, Indrasis Das, and M.M. 

Ghangrekar, Materials Science for Energy Technologies. (Subscription may be 

required.)

Mitigation of carbon dioxide by accelerated sequestration 

in concrete debris.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Carbon capture and storage 

is becoming increasingly feasible. This study provides a novel quantitative 

analysis of the global CO2 mitigation potential through accelerated carbon 

sequestration in concrete debris separated from construction and demolition 

waste. [The authors] consider the economic and environmental tradeoff. Based 

on data collection from 14 large regions and countries, [the authors] created a 

method to estimate and project the generation of concrete debris, recycling and 

carbonation rates, and cost. The overall concrete debris generation was more 

than 3.0 (0.6) billion tonnes (Bt) in 2017 worldwide, mainly from emerging 

countries such as China and India. This debris has the potential to mitigate 

62.5 (8.9) million tonnes (Mt) CO2 under optimal carbonation conditions 

determined by pressure, temperature, humidity, time, CO2 concentration, and 

debris size. [The authors’] scenario analysis reveals that the global cumulative 

carbonation of concrete debris could be as high as 3.0 Bt CO2 between 2018 

and 2035, which equals approximately one third of the total CO2 emissions 

from fuel combustion of China in 2016. In our scenarios, the economic benefits 

of storing CO2 by concrete debris are mainly from recycled concrete aggregate 

rather than carbon sequestration, but also consider the current carbon price 

in major carbon markets. These findings highlight an effective and practical 

approach to reuse concrete debris as well as enhancing economic benefits. This 

approach could be helpful to better manage the fast-growing concrete debris 

and need for carbon mitigation as well as bridging the gap of CO2 sequestration 

by concrete debris between research and application.” Ning Zhang, Huabo 

Duan, Travis R. Miller, Vivian W.Y. Tam, Gang Liu, and Jian Zuo, Renewable 

and Sustainable Energy Reviews. (Subscription may be required.)

When Is Blockchain Worth It? A Case Study of Carbon Trading.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Blockchain, as an emerging 

technology and a disruptive innovation, has attracted attention from both 

academia and industry. However, there are many potential risks associated with 

it, such as the technical risk, the legal risk and the privacy risk. A comprehensive 

risk analysis is crucial for cost-effective deployment of blockchain technology. 

Important adoption decisions, including when to deploy blockchain, how to 

plan the investment, how to transfer current businesses onto blockchain, and 

how to price the blockchain service depend on this risk analysis. Yet very little 

study exists concerning the blockchain adoption planning with risks analysis. 

This research presents a cost-and-risk analysis framework and an adoption 

planning method for the case of blockchain application in carbon trading. 

Design requirements implied by the analysis are inferred and the architecture 

of a novel hybrid blockchain system is proposed. The system leverages the 

advantages of blockchain technology and incorporates institutional risk control 

framework. The optimal adoption strategy of this system is derived through 

modelling of users’ and the organizer’s behavior.” Fangyuan Zhao and Wai Kin 

(Victor) Chan, Energies. (Subscription may be required.)

Evaluating the efficiency of carbon emissions policies 

in a large emitting developing country.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Using the energy-environmental 

version of the Global Trade Analysis Project, this study compares the effects 

of three carbon emissions mitigation strategies – a carbon tax, a fuel tax and 

an emissions trading scheme (ETS) to combat the intended emissions target 

for Indonesia, a large emitting developing country. Although the fuel tax was 

found to raise economic growth by 0.29% in 2030, the carbon tax and ETS 

which reduce economic growth by about 0.11% have less adverse effects 

on inflation, welfare loss, wage decline, and employment loss. Unlike the fuel 

tax, the carbon tax and ETS are also likely to promote substitution towards 

renewable energy given the massive increase in the price of coal of over 100% 

due to the carbon tax and ETS. To meet Indonesia’s emissions target, a carbon 

tax of US$36/ton of CO2 is needed. The carbon tax which is simpler and more 

swiftly implementable is the more practical choice compared to the ETS in 

the short to medium term for developing countries with political economy 

constraints in their energy and transportation sectors.” Sumali Dissanayake, 

Renuka Mahadevan, John Asafu-Adjaye, Energy Policy. (Subscription may 

be required.)

Pricing decisions in a socially responsible supply chain under carbon 

cap-and-trade regulation.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “This article investigates a 

socially responsible supply chain under the cap-and-trade mechanism. Stylized 

centralized and decentralized models are established to characterize corporate 

social responsibility (CSR) in this supply chain. Analytical results reveal that the 

centralized case always achieves a higher socially responsible channel profit 

than the two decentralized models, but whether the centralized case achieves 

a higher pure channel profit than the decentralized scenarios depends on how 

heavier the weight is placed on CSR: when the weight is modest, the centralized 

model attains a higher pure channel profit, while a heavier weight on CSR leads 

to a higher pure channel profit for the two decentralized cases. [The authors] 

further examine how the CSR concern level and a government-set carbon capand-trade policy affect the operations of this socially responsible supply chain.” 

Zhi-chao Zhang, Kevin W. Li, Zhi Liu, and Jun Huang, IFAC-PapersOnLine. 

(Subscription may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

Carbon Taxes and CO2 Emissions: Sweden as a Case Study.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “This quasi-experimental study 

is the first to find a significant causal effect of carbon taxes on emissions, 

empirically analyzing the implementation of a carbon tax and a value-added tax 

on transport fuel in Sweden. After implementation, carbon dioxide emissions 

from transport declined almost 11 percent, with the largest share due to 

the carbon tax alone, relative to a synthetic control unit constructed from a 

comparable group of OECD countries. Furthermore, the carbon tax elasticity 

of demand for gasoline is three times larger than the price elasticity. Policy 

evaluations of carbon taxes, using price elasticities to simulate emission 

reductions, may thus significantly underestimate their true effect.” Julius J. 

Andersson, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. (Subscription may 

be required.)

JULY 2020

Conceptual and Mathematical Foundation for the FE/NETL CO2 Prophet 

Model for Simulating CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery.

The following is a description of this FE/NETL product: “This document provides 

the mathematical basis for the FE/NETL CO2 Prophet Model. The FE/NETL CO2

Prophet Model is a streamline/stream tube reservoir simulator for modeling 

CO2 EOR. It is comprised of two Fortran programs, StrmtbGen (generates 

streamlines and stream tubes) and StrmtbFlow (solves the multiphase flow 

equations within stream tubes). StrmtbGen and StrmtbFlow along with their 

user’s manuals are available on NETL’s website under the Collection Name: FE/

NETL CO2 Prophet Model.”

Net Zero and Beyond: What Role for Bioenergy with Carbon Capture 

and Storage?

The following is from the Introduction of this Chatham House research paper: 

“In the context of seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero, 

policymakers are beginning to pay more attention to options for removing 

carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – a process referred to as CDR (‘carbon 

dioxide removal’). Without the rapid scale-up of such measures, achieving 

Paris Agreement temperature targets will be increasingly challenging: current 

emissions abatement efforts are not progressing quickly enough to prevent the 

world from overshooting global emissions targets. In theory, CDR measures 

may permit the total costs of a climate mitigation strategy to be reduced in 

absolute terms (or amortized over a longer period); enable ambitious targets 

(such as limiting global warming to 1.5°C) to become more feasible; or delay 

the point when peak emissions are reached, retroactively compensating 

for overshooting the cumulative carbon budget. A wide range of potential 

CDR measures are currently being discussed. Alongside afforestation and 

reforestation, the main option featuring in integrated assessment models 

(IAMs) is bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). BECCS 

refers to a set of technologies and processes through which the carbon 

emissions from burning biomass for energy are captured before release into 

the atmosphere, and then stored in underground reservoirs. If this biomass 

energy is assumed to be carbon-neutral, BECCS should theoretically result 

in net negative emissions, as the accompanying carbon sequestered by 

biomass is permanently stored. The prominence of BECCS in the models does 

not, however, represent a prescriptive judgment about its merits relative to 

other negative emissions options. Nor does it necessarily validate the current, 

highly constrained, development trajectory of BECCS technology. It is, rather, a 

reflection mainly of the fact that BECCS is based on well-understood biology, so 

it is easier to make assumptions about and model the impacts on emissions at 

various carbon prices. In contrast, evaluating the potential of newer and more 

speculative negative emissions technologies is more challenging. In reality, 

there are many reasons to question the reliance on BECCS assumed in the 

models – including the carbon balances achievable, the substantial demand 

for land, water and other inputs that is associated with BECCS solutions, and 

the underlying assumption that technically and economically viable carbon 

capture and storage (CCS) technologies will be available ‘off the shelf’ in the 

near term, which is not being borne out in practice.”

Active surface and borehole seismic monitoring of a small 

supercritical CO2 injection into the subsurface: experience from the 

CO2CRC Otway Project.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Time-lapse (TL) (4D) seismic 

monitoring of injected CO2 in geological formations is being increasingly 

employed as the principal method for ensuring containment of CO2 and testing 

conformance of predicted plume behavior. However, to bring further confidence 

in this method, the CO2 volume detection limit in the seismic monitoring and key 

factors controlling it need to be quantitatively understood. The CO2CRC Otway 

Project attempts to improve this understanding by exploring the capability of 

seismic reflection method to detect and monitor a 15-kt injection of supercritical 

CO2/CH4 mixture in a saline aquifer at a depth of 1500 m. The monitoring 

program consists of TL 3D seismic surveys using a buried geophone array, 

TL 3D vertical seismic profiling (VSP), and offset VSP. Seismic acquisition was 

carried out at injection intervals of 5, 10, and 15 kt over a 5-month period and 

also, 9 and 23 months after the end of injection. The TL seismic images clearly 

show the distribution and evolution of the stored CO2/CH4 plume. The results 

demonstrate the potential of TL reflection seismic to provide key information to 

both operators and regulators for confirming the security and behavior of stored 

CO2 at very small volumes.” Roman Pevzner, Milovan Urosevic, Konstantin 

Tertyshnikov, Hussain AlNasser, Eva Caspari, Julia Correa, Tom Daley, Tess 

Dance, Barry Freifeld, Stanislav Glubokovskikh, Andrew Greenwood, Anton 

Kepic, Dmitry Popik, Sofya Popik, Matthias Raab, Michelle Robertson, 

Valeriya Shulakova, Rajindar Singh... Boris Gurevich, Active Geophysical 

Monitoring (Second Edition). (Subscription may be required.)

Imine-linked polymer/silica composites for CO2 sequestration.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The silica supported imine 

polymers are synthesized using a facile single step Schiff-base condensation. 

The formation of imine linkage on silica support is confirmed using FT-IR and 

solid state 13C NMR. The crystallinity and surface morphology of the materials 

are examined by PXRD and SEM analyses. The thermal stability of the materials 

is confirmed from TGA analysis. N2 sorption isotherms for Si-TPA-1 and SiTPA-2 exhibit surface area of 105.8 m2/g and 404.5 m2/g respectively. The 

adsorption isotherms exhibit meso- and microporous environments of Si-TPAs. 

The CO2 uptake capacity of Si-TPAs are around 38.86 mg/g - 121. 85 mg/g. 

The experimental adsorption data is fitted with Langmuir and Freundlich 

adsorption isotherm models. The thermodynamic parameters emphasis that 

the adsorption process is spontaneous and exothermic physisorption. Isosteric 

heats of adsorption for Si-TPAs are around 38.5–32.5 kJ/mol. The high 

selectivity of CO2 over N2 is obtained for both Si-TPAs at 273 K and also high 

selectivity of CO2 over CH4 is achieved at 298 K.” Marimuthu Senthilkumaran, 

Lakshmanan Eswaran, Chokalingam Saravanan, Pillaiyar Puthiaraj, Perumal 

Rameshkumar, and Paulpandian Muthu Mareeswaran, Materials Chemistry 

and Physics. (Subscription may be required)

Evaluating the efficiency of carbon emissions policies in a large 

emitting developing country.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Using the energy-environmental 

version of the Global Trade Analysis Project, this study compares the effects 

of three carbon emissions mitigation strategies – a carbon tax, a fuel tax and 

an emissions trading scheme (ETS) to combat the intended emissions target 

for Indonesia, a large emitting developing country. Although the fuel tax was 

found to raise economic growth by 0.29% in 2030, the carbon tax and ETS 

which reduce economic growth by about 0.11% have less adverse effects 

on inflation, welfare loss, wage decline, and employment loss. Unlike the fuel 

tax, the carbon tax and ETS are also likely to promote substitution towards 

renewable energy given the massive increase in the price of coal of over 100% 

due to the carbon tax and ETS. To meet Indonesia’s emissions target, a carbon 

tax of US$36/ton of CO2 is needed. The carbon tax which is simpler and more 

swiftly implementable is the more practical choice compared to the ETS in 

the short to medium term for developing countries with political economy 

constraints in their energy and transportation sectors.” Sumali Dissanayake, 

Renuka Mahadevan, and John Asafu-Adjaye, Energy Policy. (Subscription 

may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

Methane production via syngas fermentation within the bio-CCS 

concept: A techno-economic assessment.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The study provides a 

comprehensive approach on assessing the feasibility of a novel process 

configuration that couples synthetic natural gas (SNG) production via syngas 

fermentation with carbon capture and storage (CCS). The present research 

constitutes the first endeavour to examine the techno-economic performance 

of this sophisticated hybrid SNG+CCS infrastructure. For this purpose, a 

flowsheet analysis within the Aspen Plus environment served to quantify the 

material and energy flows and then based on the simulations technical and 

economic indicators were estimated. A plant processing 6.25 dt/h of virgin 

biomass yields 1.32 t/h of SNG, achieves 51.2% energy efficiency and stores 

2.97 t/h of CO2. The threshold SNG price (NPV=0) for the project to become 

economically viable is 92.14 £/MWh. A combination of existing policy schemes 

and the establishment of new instruments that will reward negative emissions 

has the potential to generate profits. A thorough cost breakdown along with a 

sensitivity analysis revealed that the process is CAPEX and feedstock intensive 

while larger plants can reduce the SNG price by about 15%. A stochastic 

Monte Carlo analysis indicated that even if the project shows promising 

techno-economic potential without the establishment of a consistent and 

robust legislation framework there is no realistic prospect for the proposed 

bio-CCS plant to compete with fossil natural gas.” Stavros Michailos, Oluchi 

Emenike, Derek Ingham, Kevin J. Hughes, and Mohamed Pourkashanian,

Biochemical Engineering Journal. (Subscription may be required.)

Modified mineral carbonation of phosphogypsum for CO2

sequestration.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “A modified phosphogypsum 

carbonation was systematically investigated, and ammonium acetate was 

used to separate Ca2+ and concentrate impurity ions from PG. The effect 

of technological conditions on salt-leaching and carbonation results were 

discussed. The calcium leaching rate was 98.1%, and the only crystal phase 

of salt-leaching product was quartz with granular morphology and some 

pores in the surface. The carbonation ratio (η) was 98.32%, and 1000 kg 

of phosphogypsum produced 510 kg of high-purity CaCO3 and sequestered 

224 kg of CO2 under the optimized conditions. The spherical vaterite 

carbonation product met the recommended Chinese standard (HG/T 2226-

2010). The carbonation filtrate can be reused for salt-leaching experiments. 

Various polymorph and morphology of CaCO3 were achieved by adjusting 

the carbonation temperature and ammonia dosage. The mechanism of 

phosphogpysum carbonation was studied by using thermodynamics research. 

All of this indicated that the whole procedure setup of phosphogypsum 

carbonation showed potential application for phosphogypsum utilization and 

CO2 sequestration.” Wenjin Ding, Qiuju Chen, Hongjuan Sun, and Tongjiang 

Peng, Journal of CO2 Utilization. (Subscription may be required.)

Exploring the potential of carbon capture and storage-enhanced oil 

recovery as a mitigation strategy in the Colombian oil industry.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The use of CO2 for enhanced 

oil recovery (CO2-EOR) is a promising alternative for reducing the cost of 

carbon capture and storage (CCS). In this study the techno-economic potential 

of integrated CCS-EOR projects for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 

in the Colombian oil industry is estimated. For this purpose, a source-sink 

matching process is carried out, including CO2 capture potentials in sources 

from the petroleum, cement, power generation, and bioethanol industries, as 

well as from the CO2 storage in suitable oil fields for EOR. The results indicate 

that a total of 142 million tons of carbon dioxide (MtCO2) could be stored, while 

delivering 465 MMbbl through five CCS-EOR projects in four clusters identified 

around the country. The levelised cost for capture ranged between 12–209 

€/tCO2, followed by the cost of CO2 during EOR operations with a variation 

of 24–59 €/tCO2, and finally the CO2 transport, from 1 €/tCO2 to 23 €/tCO2. 

The CO2 mitigation potential of CCS-EOR represents 25% of the forecasted oil 

industry emissions in Colombia for the period of 2025–2040. As compared 

to the intended nationally determined contribution (INDC) target set by the 

Colombian government, CCS-EOR projects could contribute 7% of the total 

accumulated emissions reductions by 2040.” Edgar Yáñez, Andrea Ramírez, 

Vanessa Núñez-López, Edgar Castillo, and André Faaij, International Journal 

of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

Impact of deadwood decomposition on soil organic carbon 

sequestration in Estonian and Polish forests.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The deadwood of different 

tree species with different decomposition rates affects soil organic carbon 

sequestration in Estonian and Polish forests. In warmer conditions (Poland), 

the deadwood decomposition process had a higher rate than in cooler 

Estonian forests. Soil organic matter fractions analysis can be used to assess 

the stability and turnover of organic carbon between deadwood and soil in 

different experimental localities.” Ewa Błońska, Jarosław Lasota, Arvo Tullus, 

Reimo Lutter, and Ivika Ostonen, Annals of Forest Science. (Subscription may 

be required.)

Challenges and potentials for soil organic carbon sequestration in 

forage and grazing systems.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Forage and grazing (FG) 

systems can store a substantial amount of soil organic carbon (SOC) 

under appropriate land use management and reduce atmospheric CO2

concentrations. Increasing SOC levels along with many interlinked ecosystem 

services are essential for increased productivity and sustainability of FG 

lands (FGLs). Although adoption of improved management practices (MPs) 

that support SOC sequestration (SOCq) is necessary, clear understandings of 

challenges and opportunities which are sometimes unique to individual FGLs, 

are also important for implementation of MPs. The objective of this forum 

paper is to explore the latest scientific knowledge on opportunities to address 

major challenges for increasing SOCq in FGLs. In intensively managed FGLs 

where the goal is often to maximize yields, lands are heavily fertilized and thus, 

usually drive towards SOC loss. Diversifications of both forage and grazing 

species along with strategic grazing plans have been proven as effective MPs 

for increasing SOCq. However, challenge of maintaining productivity levels still 

remains. Implementing improved grazing for nutrient cycling and integrating 

forage diversification for increased biodiversity are found to improve soil health 

attributes, which are critical for SOCq. However, to achieve this, [the authors] 

also need to consider site- and soil- specific factors. Extreme climatic events 

often lead to a decline in soil fertility status, SOCq and overall productivity of 

FGL systems. To address these challenges, uses of models to simulate the FGL 

systems and have definite choices of suitable MPs are helpful. However, [the 

authors] must be able to access a wide range of datasets to develop systemlevel adaption strategies that are effective in mitigating these adverse effects. 

Ultimately, participatory research with novel views and improved perceptions 

based on the value of SOCq and long-term benefits of the implementation 

of the best MPs and developing education and outreach materials to enrich 

the producers’ knowledge gaps are helpful for climate-resilient FGL systems.” 

Reshmi Sarkar, Vanessa Corriher-Olson, Charles Long, and Anil Somenahally, 

Rangeland Ecology & Management. (Subscription may be required.)

AUGUST 2020

The US Section 45Q Tax Credit for Carbon Oxide Sequestration: An 

Update.

The following is from the Introduction of this Global CCS Institute brief: “This 

brief is intended for carbon capture and storage (CCS), climate and clean 

energy advocates, policymakers and projects developers globally and focuses 

on the latest developments with regards to the 45Q tax credit for carbon oxide 

sequestration in the US, including a summary of the guidance released so far. 

The US has a long history of providing energy tax credits to a variety of fuels 

and production methods. In the context of clean energy deployment, tax credits 

have become the preferred incentive structure by the federal government to 

spur the deployment of and unlock investment in clean energy. Examples 

include tax credits for energy efficiency investments, the federal Investment 

Tax Credit (ITC) for solar energy and the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind, 

all of which have delivered large amounts of renewable energy capacity. 

With the ability to claim tax credits depending on a clean energy developer’s 

being profitable enough to owe taxes, a market for financing clean energy 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

has developed through these tax credits. Such tax equity partnerships allow a 

developer who is unable to claim the credits to secure financing by partnering 

with an investor – a tax equity investor.”

A New Era for CCUS Driven by Contrasted Policies and Business 

Models: US and European Approaches.

The following is a summary of this CEDIGAZ document: “[...] There are 

currently 20 new, large-scale, CCUS projects planned around the world, nine 

of them in Europe. While projects developed in the middle of the 2000s mainly 

targeted coal-fired power plants and stored the captured carbon, the focus 

of the new projects is different as they tend to concentrate on industrial and 

manufacturing processes and on carbon utilization rather than just storage. 

Several projects involve production of clean hydrogen from natural gas, a 

cheaper option than hydrolysis using renewable power. New business models 

aim at reducing costs by dis-integrating the CCUS value chain into its three 

components of capture, transport and storage, and by addressing clusters of 

industrial facilities to achieve economies of scale. The US is the most advanced 

globally in terms of CCUS supporting policies. In February 2018, the US 

Congress passed substantial tax credits to encourage private investment in 

the deployment of CCUS. In addition, in September 2018, California amended 

its Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) program with a CCS Protocol. While 

insufficient to incentivize CCUS in existing facilities (retrofitting) or in the 

largest US emitting sectors like power plants or cement and steel production, 

they should help deploy CCUS on the ‘low hanging fruits’ which could lead 

to cost reduction for further projects through the learning curve and the 

deployment of shared infrastructure. As Europe’s new energy strategy aims at 

a carbon neutral economy by 2050, large-scale deployment of CCUS appears 

necessary. The EC is supporting CCUS through a range of policy initiatives and 

has pledged to invest €10 billion in CCUS and other low-carbon technologies. 

Nine projects are currently under development, making Europe the leader in 

the renewed global effort to promote CCUS. They focus on energy intensive 

industries and those with inherent process emissions of CO2 (e.g. cement). 

Gas-fired power plants are also targeted and several [projects] involve clean 

hydrogen production from natural gas. The business model of European CCUS 

projects is to develop multi-user ‘hub and cluster’ facilities in industrial regions, 

tied-in to shared transport and storage infrastructure. With different policy 

approaches and different incentives, the US and Europe both look to achieve 

global leadership in CCUS technologies and both recognize the crucial role of 

carbon management and CCUS in the future.” 

Assessment of CO2 trapping mechanisms in partially depleted 

oil-bearing sands.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The objective of this work is 

to evaluate various CO2 sequestration mechanisms occurring in the Morrow 

B Sandstone in the Farnsworth Unit. A history-matched numerical simulation 

model was created using extensive geological, petrophysical, and operational 

data collected from the field. The numerical model is competent to investigate 

the impact of residual, structural-stratigraphic, solubility, and mineral trapping 

mechanisms on the fluid transportation dynamics and petrophysical property 

variations. The model forecasts the field response of 20 years of WAG 

injections. Afterward, all wells were shut-in, and the reservoir was allowed 

to evolve for 1000 years to investigate the fate of injected CO2. In this paper, 

[the authors] assess the impacts of various trapping mechanisms on oil 

recovery and CO2 storage efficacy. By analyzing the results reported from 

the numerical simulation model, the in-situ fluid composition and mineralogy 

changes are also investigated. More importantly, [the authors] seek to confirm 

the petrophysical property variations due to the CO2 injection with observations 

from laboratory measurements. The experiences gained from this study 

provide valuable insights regarding physiochemical storage induced by the CO2

injection activities and serve as a benchmark case for future CO2 enhanced oil 

recovery (EOR) projects involving reactive solute transport.” Qian Sun, William 

Ampomah, Eusebius Junior Kutsienyo, Martin Appold, Benjamin AduGyamfi, Zhenxue Dai, and Mohamed Reza Soltanian, Fuel. (Subscription may 

be required.)

Mobilization of trace metals from caprock and formation rocks at the 

Illinois Basin – Decatur Project demonstration site under geological 

carbon dioxide sequestration conditions.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “One concern for geologic CO2

sequestration is the potential leakage of CO2 or CO2-saturated brine containing 

trace metals into overlying aquifers, which poses the risk of adversely affecting 

underground sources of drinking water. In this work, rock and brine samples 

collected in the Illinois Basin – Decatur Project (IBDP), a large-scale geological 

CO2 sequestration demonstration project in Decatur, Illinois, USA, as well as 

synthetic brine samples were used to understand the mobilization of trace 

metals as a result of CO2–rock–brine interactions under IBDP-specific 

conditions (50°C and 20.6 MPa). Rock sample characterization indicated that, 

at the IBDP site, trace metal concentrations were greatest in cap rock samples 

from the Eau Claire Formation, compared with those from formations above 

and below this Formation. The natural brine samples collected from the Mt. 

Simon Sandstone reservoir were highly reducing and saline, with trace metal 

concentrations up to 680 times greater than the U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency-prescribed drinking water standards. Batch leaching experiments 

indicated that both trace metal mobilization from rock and immobilization from 

the brine occurred when high-pressure CO2 was introduced into the rock-brine 

system. The amounts of metals mobilized from the rock generally accounted 

for <5% of the total metals in the rock, but for some metals, including Ni, 

Pb, and Tl, up to 63% of the metals in the rock were mobilized to the brine. 

Leaching of trace metals into synthetic brines was different from that into the 

natural brine. The results of this study provided current information on the trace 

element sources and will help in risk simulations and experimental design to 

further evaluate potential impact of leakage on groundwater quality, which is 

important for future GCS projects to consider for monitoring and containment 

assurance purposes.” Hongbo Shao, Jared T. Freiburg, Peter M. Berger, 

Alexander H. Taylor, Hanna F. Cohen, and Randall A. Locke II, Chemical 

Geology. (Subscription may be required.)

Can bioenergy carbon capture and storage aggravate 

global water crisis?

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Bioenergy carbon capture 

and storage (BECCS) is an effective option for mitigation of greenhouse gas 

(GHG) emissions. Nevertheless, there is barely serious debate about whether 

its implementation can possibly jeopardize the global water resources security. 

Here, [the authors] provided an assessment of biomass-based Substitute 

Natural Gas (BioSNG) production combined with CCS, a promising BECCS 

technology, in terms of global water resources security, with a focus on 

the growth of two typical second-generation bioenergy crops: switchgrass 

and miscanthus. A bottom-up analysis approach was applied in this paper 

to calculating water consumption for BECCS and estimating water quality 

deterioration caused by increasing fertilizer and pesticide application. The 

results indicated that water usage of BECCS was equal to adding 12.86%–

16.64% (switchgrass) and 17.59%–26.06% (miscanthus) additional water 

stress on global available water resources at 2100. Additional N fertilizer 

application in 2100 would be equal to over 84%, 55% and 42% for both 

switchgrass and miscanthus under three CCS capture efficiency scenarios, 

respectively, comparing to such global scale in 2012. Additional phosphate 

fertilizer adding to global annual available water at 2100 were 0.004–0.008 

mg L−1 (switchgrass) and 0.003–0.006 mg L−1 (miscanthus), respectively. 

The secondary environmental hazards, such as N2O emission, would offset 

GHG emission mitigation by BECCS. Meanwhile, the enrichment and leaching 

of pesticide residues increased the risk of groundwater contamination. This 

study revealed water consumption and contamination issues caused by BECCS 

cannot be neglected. Thus, additional studies of accurate land-use models in 

global scale and advanced technology for biofuel extraction are needed in the 

future.” Bin Hu, Yilun Zhang, Yi Li, Yanguo Teng, and Weifeng Yue, Science of 

The Total Environment. (Subscription may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

43

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

Technical economic analysis of an intensified Integrated Gasification 

Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plant featuring a sequence of 

membrane reactors.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “In this work, a technical 

economic analysis (TEA) is carried-out for the design of an Integrated 

Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plant featuring a sequence of 

hydrogen-permeable ceramic membrane reactors (MRs). The proposed 

design features membrane reactors that generate hydrogen of higher purity 

than conventional reactor-separator systems used in IGCC plants, and enable 

over 90% carbon capture in the Dual-Stage Selexol unit. A multi-scale model 

is used to simulate the proposed MR sequence, and a commercial process 

flowsheet simulator is used to create the proposed intensified MR IGCC plant 

flowsheet, which is subsequently heat integrated. The TEA developed for the 

MR IGCC power plant allows for the economic characteristics of its design 

to be compared with those of a traditional IGCC plant equipped with carbon 

capture storage (CCS) technology.” Patricia A. Pichardo, Seçgin Karagöz, 

Theodore Tsotsis, Richard Ciora, and Vasilios I. Manousiouthakis, Journal of 

Membrane Science. (Subscription may be required.)

CO2 storage and CaCO3 production using seawater and an alkali 

industrial by-product.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Indirect carbonation is one 

of the typical carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies. It is well 

known, however, that the technology is very difficult to achieve economic 

feasibility because expensive chemical solvents used account for most of the 

cost. To overcome this limitation, [the authors] performed an experimental 

study to secure the economic feasibility of the technology by replacing such 

chemical solvents with nearly costless seawater. For the study, [the authors] 

used cement kiln dust (CKD), which is an alkali industrial by-product, together 

with seawater. In this paper, [the authors] attained CO2 storage and CaCO3 

yield despite the use of seawater, which is comparable in both quantitative 

and qualitative respects to the existing studies using chemical reagents. The 

CO2 storage and CaCO3 yield were 185kg-CO2/ton-CKD and 419kg-CaCO3/

ton-CKD, respectively. With the addition of Mg into the seawater, moreover, the 

amounts could significantly increase to reach 271kg-CO2/ton-CKD and 615kgCaCO3/ton-CKD, respectively. Despite using CKD and seawater containing 

many impurities, the purity of CaCO3 produced was as high as 99.4%. It was 

also found that Mg is one component, which can elute Ca from CKD, dissolved 

in seawater. The solid to liquid ratio was the most influential factor for the Ca 

elution efficiency, while the CO2 flow rate and NaOH dosage had significant 

effects on the carbonation efficiency.” Junhyeok Jeon and Myoung-Jin Kim,

Chemical Engineering Journal. (Subscription may be required)

Carbon sequestration and soil restoration potential of grazing lands 

under exclosure management in a semi-arid environment of northern 

Ethiopia.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Exclosures are used to 

regenerate native vegetation as a way to reduce soil erosion, increase rain 

water infiltration and provide fodder and woody biomass in degraded grazing 

lands. Therefore, this study assessed the impact of grazing exclosure on 

carbon sequestration and soil nutrients under 5 and 10 years of grazing 

exclosures and freely grazed areas in Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Carbon stocks 

and soil nutrients increased with increasing grazing exclusion. However, open 

grazing lands and 5 years of grazing exclosure did not differ in above- and 

belowground carbon stocks. Moreover, 10 years of grazing exclosure had a 

higher (p < 0.01) grass, herb and litter carbon stocks compared to 5 years 

exclosure and open grazing lands. The total carbon stock was higher for 10 

years exclosure (75.65 t C ha-1) than the 5 years exclosure (55.06 t C ha-1) 

and in open grazing areas (51.98 t C ha-1). Grazing lands closed for 10 years 

had a higher SOC, organic matter, total N, available P, and exchangeable K + 

and Na + compared to 5 year’s exclosure and open grazing lands. Therefore, 

establishment of grazing exclosures had a positive effect in restoring degraded 

grazing lands, thus improving carbon sequestration potentials and soil 

nutrients.” Tsegay Gebregergs, Zewdu K. Tessema, Negasi Solomon, and 

Emiru Birhane, Ecology and Evolution. (Subscription may be required.)

Geomechanical and petrographic assessment of a CO2 storage site: 

Application to the Acorn CO2 Storage Site, offshore United Kingdom.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Extraction or injection of 

fluids within the subsurface causes fluctuations of fluid pressures and thus 

stress conditions. It is paramount to have knowledge of the geomechanical 

strength of a system’s lithologies, and the factors that control it, in order to 

maintain optimal conditions during extraction/injection. If the yield strengths of 

the reservoir or caprock are overcome, particularly in the near-wellbore region 

where stress is amplified, these fluctuations could potentially compromise 

the system, through compactional or dilatational failure. Here [the authors] 

have used a novel combination of methods to determine the geomechanical 

and petrographic properties of the reservoir and caprock lithologies to assess 

suitability of the proposed Acorn CO2 Storage Site, offshore north-east Scotland, 

for long-term injection and storage of CO2. The Acorn CO2 Storage Site has 

a highly porous and transmissible sandstone reservoir, with bulk mineralogy 

that will be stable under CO2-rich conditions, making it ideal for receiving at 

least 152 MT CO2 injected over ~20 years and storage of >1000 years postinjection, as part of the ACT-Acorn Development Plan. However, due to the 

high porosity and low cementation of the sandstone reservoir, it has low yield 

strength and is vulnerable to disaggregation and porosity-reduction if injection 

rates are too high and stress/pressure conditions exceed their yield strength. 

The results presented here provide quantitative constraints on the porosity 

reduction expected should yield occur and place limits on CO2 injection rates. 

The shale caprock, with a high swelling clay content and very low permeability, 

present ideal Carbon Capture and Storage seal properties.” Michael J. 

Allen, Daniel R. Faulkner, Richard H. Worden, Elliot Rice-Birchall, Nikolaos 

Katirtsidis, and James E.P. Utley, International Journal of Greenhouse Gas 

Control. (Subscription may be required.)

CO2 mitigation policy for Indian thermal power sector: Potential gains 

from emission trading.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “This study shows potential 

cost savings by adoption of emission trading in India. At the Paris Agreement, 

India pledged to reduce CO2 emissions intensity by about 30–35% by 2030 

relative to 2005. Applying joint production function of electricity and CO2

emissions, [the authors] find that India could have saved about US$ 5 to 8 

billion, if she had constituted an emission trading system, with the provision 

of banking and borrowing over the study period of 5 years. To [the authors’] 

knowledge, this is the first study measuring foregone gains due to absence 

of a nationwide carbon emission-trading program in coal fired thermal power 

sector, using an ex-post analysis.” Surender Kumar, Shunsuke Managi, and 

Rakesh Kumar Jain, Energy Economics. (Subscription may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

44

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

SEPTEMBER 2020

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Market Size 2020 – Competitive 

Landscape and Growth Opportunity, Industry Status and 

Forecast to 2025.

The following is a description of this Market Research report: “[This report] 

offers a thorough investigation of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Market, 

SWOT examination of the most prominent players right now. Alongside an 

industrial chain, market measurements regarding revenue, sales, value, 

capacity, regional market examination, section insightful information, and 

market forecast are offered in the full investigation, and so forth... Some of 

the major objectives of this report: [1] To provide a detailed investigation of 

the market structure alongside conjecture of the different sections and subportions of the worldwide Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Market. [2] To 

provide bits of knowledge about factors influencing market development. To 

examine the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Market dependent on different 

variables value examination, store network investigation, porter five power 

investigation and so on. [3] To provide authentically and estimate the income 

of the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Market portions and sub-fragments 

concerning four principle geographies and their nations North America, Europe, 

Asia, and the Rest of the World. [4] Nation level examination of the market 

regarding the present market size and future prospective. [5] To provide a 

national level examination of the market for section by Component, Technology, 

Application, End-Use, And Region. [6] To provide key profiling of key players in 

the market, thoroughly investigating their center capabilities, and drawing a 

serious scene for the market. [7] Track and break down serious advancements, 

for example, joint endeavors, key coalitions, mergers and acquisitions, new 

item improvements, and research and improvements in the worldwide Carbon 

Capture and Storage (CCS) Market.”

Raising Ambition Through Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform: Greenhouse gas 

emissions results modelling from 26 countries.

The following is a description of this International Institute for Sustainable 

Development (IISD) report: “This working paper models the impact of the 

removal of fossil fuel subsidies on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions 

for the following countries: Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, Germany, 

Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nigeria, 

Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, United Arab 

Emirates, the United States, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zambia. The research 

found simple country average GHG emission reductions of 6 per cent from 

2018 until 2025, compared to business as usual. With an additional 10 per 

cent energy tax from 2025 until 2030 and a shift of 30 per cent of the savings 

from reforms and of revenues from taxation into investments in renewable 

energy and energy efficiency (i.e., a swap), GHG emission reductions improve 

to an average of 13.2 per cent by 2030. Cumulative fiscal savings from fossil 

fuel subsidy reform (FFSR) alone by 2030 total USD 2.56 trillion across the 

countries analyzed, with total cumulative GHG emissions abated from FFSR 

of 4.8 GtCO2e by 2030. For every tonne of CO2e removed through FFSR, 

governments save an average of USD 93. This study also includes a literature 

review of 60 pieces of research on global GHG emission reductions stemming 

from negative and positive carbon pricing. [The authors] reviewed 40 papers 

concerned with FFSR and 20 papers focused on fossil fuel energy or carbon 

taxation. [The authors’] review found that global studies of fossil fuel subsidy 

removal result in emission reductions of between 1 and 10 per cent by 2030 

and between 6.4 and 8.2 per cent by 2050. Removing fossil fuel subsidies 

and applying appropriate taxation could reduce emissions by a much larger 

28 per cent globally. Fossil fuel subsidies act as a negative carbon price and 

could also be considered along with carbon pricing discussions. Furthermore, 

governments could consider the co-benefits of GHG emission reductions 

from FFSR and taxation, and include these policies within second-generation 

Nationally Determined Contributions.”

CSIRO In-Situ Lab: A multi-pronged approach to surface gas and 

groundwater monitoring at geological CO2 storage sites.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “In February 2019, at the 

CSIRO In-Situ Laboratory CCS project, a test was conducted where 38 t 

of gaseous CO2 were injected over 5 days into a fault zone at a depth of 

approximately 340 m. As a release test, this project enabled the testing and 

validation of surface and shallow well monitoring strategies at intermediate 

depths (i.e. depths much deeper than previous release projects and shallower 

than reservoirs used for CO2 storage). One of the aims of this project is to 

understand how CO2 would behave at intermediate depths if it did migrate 

from deeper depths (i.e. from a storage reservoir); the CO2 was not intended 

to migrate to the shallow subsurface or to surface/atmosphere. To verify 

that the injected CO2 remained in the subsurface, and to comply with 

environmental performance requirements on site, a comprehensive surface 

gas and groundwater monitoring program was conducted. The monitoring 

strategy was designed such that any leakage(s) to the surface of injected 

CO2 would be detected, mapped and, ultimately, quantified. The surface air 

monitoring program was comprised of three different but complementary 

approaches allowing data to be efficiently collected over different spatial and 

temporal scales. These approaches included continuous soil-gas chamber 

measurements at fixed locations, periodic soil-gas chamber measurements on 

gridded locations and near-surface atmospheric measurements on a mobile 

platform. The surface air monitoring approaches gave self-consistent results 

and reduced the risk of ‘false negative’ test results. The only anomalous CO2

detected at the surface flowed from the observation well and could be directly 

attributed to a breach in the well casing at the injection depth providing a 

conduit for CO2/water to rise to the surface. Groundwater monitoring program 

revealed no impact on the groundwater resources attributable to the carbon 

injection project. Based on this work, [the authors] demonstrate that this multipronged monitoring strategy can be utilized to minimize the overall resources 

devoted to monitoring by increasing the number of monitoring approaches 

and diminishing the resources devoted to each technique. By maximizing the 

effectiveness of each element of the monitoring program, a cost-efficient and 

robust monitoring strategy capable of early leak detection and attribution of 

any leaking CO2 can be achieved.” Matthew Myers, Cameron White, Bobby 

Pejcic, Andrew Feitz, Jennifer Roberts, Yun-Yeong Oh, Liang Xu, Ludovic 

Ricard, Karsten Michael, Arsham Avijegon, Praveen Kumar Rachakonda, 

Martijn Woltering, Alf Larcher, Linda Stalker, and Allison Hortle, Chemical 

Geology. (Subscription may be required.)

Optimization-based approach for CO2 utilization in carbon capture, 

utilization and storage supply chain.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one 

of the primary anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs), and its increasing 

emission has drawn wide attention from the international community. Among 

the strategies for CO2 diminishment, carbon capture, utilization and storage 

(CCUS) is considered as the key option. The objective of this work is to develop 

an optimization-based assessment framework that aims to incorporate CO2

storage and CO2 utilization into an integrated framework. To achieve this goal, 

a superstructure network including all the sections of CCUS supply chain is 

proposed, which includes CO2 capture, transportation, storage and utilization 

with 15 candidate conversion process paths. Based on this superstructure, 

a mathematical model for the optimal design of a supply chain of CCUS is 

developed. CO2 would be stored underground and/or utilized to produce 

chemical products through candidate conversion paths. Finally, a case with real 

data of large emission sources in Northeast China is studied. Three different 

scenarios are investigated, according to key constraints on CCUS network: 

CO2 emission source, raw material limits and products demands limits. Results 

show that adsorption is the preferred capture technology at relative high flue 

gas flow rate and high CO2 concentration. Storing CO2 is the recommended 

approach compared with utilization from the point of economy, however, 

carbon utilization could be a more sustainable option and may generate a 

carbon-neutral cycle. With the increase of CO2 utilization, the cost of CCUS 

supply chain also increase (Scenario A: 2.49 billion $/y, Scenario B: 2.76 billion 

$/y, Scenario C: 2.85 billion $/y).” Shuai Zhang, Yu Zhuang, Linlin Liu, Lei 

Zhang, and Jian Du, Computers & Chemical Engineering. (Subscription may 

be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

45

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

Moisture-Driven CO2 Sorbents.

The following is a summary of this article: “Moving the energy infrastructure 

away from fossil fuels to renewable energies to stop global warming is a 

challenging task. In the transition, CO2 capture and storage (CCS) from point 

sources could reduce CO2 emission. However, the objective of stabilizing 

atmospheric CO2 at 450 ppm cannot be achieved by CCS alone. Here, the 

urgency of the development of CO2 capture from ambient air, or ‘direct air 

capture’ (DAC) is demonstrated. A successful sorbent for DAC must (1) have 

fast reaction kinetics, (2) be low in cost, and (3) be able to regenerate with a 

low energy barrier to complete the whole CO2 capture-release cycle. Most CO2

sorbents failed in the third category as they had to overcome a large energy 

barrier to regenerate. This study presents an energy-saving sorbent to capture 

CO2 simply by controlling the water quantities on it. [The authors] report the 

effects of parameters of the sorbents on CO2 capture efficiency. The study can 

lead the way toward the optimization of sorbents for DAC. An energy-saving 

system containing ion-exchange or nanoporous materials and carbonate ions 

is proposed, which is capable of capturing CO2 from ambient air simply by 

controlling the amount of water (moisture) in contact with the sorbent. The 

system binds CO2 from the air when the surrounding is dry, whereas it desorbs 

CO2 when it is wet. A design of such CO2 sorption and desorption systems 

is investigated using quantum mechanics simulations and is verified by 

experiments. Its working mechanism is revealed as the free energy change 

of the chemical reaction of the carbonate ions and water molecules; the 

free energy change decreases when the number of water molecules in the 

materials decreases. The influence of pore size, spacing of cations, and surface 

hydrophobicity of the sorbents on CO2 capture efficiency are elucidated. The 

study sheds light on ways to optimize an efficient direct air capture system and 

therefore contributes to the development of ‘negative emission technologies.’” 

Xiaoyang Shi, Hang Xiao, Kohei Kanamori, Akio Yonezu, Klaus S. Lackner, 

and Xi Chen, Joule. (Subscription may be required.)

Modified phosphogypsum sequestrating CO2 and characteristics 

of the carbonation product.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “A method of PG carbonation 

to produce polymorphs of high-purity CaCO3 was proposed. The effect 

of experimental conditions on transformation process from PG to calcium 

carbonate was systematically discussed. PG transformed into granular 

portlandite and fibrous quartz under the action of caustic soda at room 

temperature for 10min. The carbonation ratio (η) was 98.57%, and 1000kg 

of PG could produce 519kg of high-purity CaCO3 and sequestrated 228kg 

of CO2. The spherical vaterite carbonation product met the relevant standards 

for the industrial precipitated calcium carbonate. A reaction mechanism of PG 

carbonation was also proposed by thermodynamic research of the gas-liquidsolid reaction. The products with a single vaterite structure, or a vaterite and 

calcite mixing structure or a vaterite, aragonite and calcite mixing structure 

were all successfully prepared. All of these indicated that the whole procedure 

setup of PG carbonation showed potential application for PG utilization and CO2

sequestration.” Wenjin Ding, Qiuju Chen, Hongjuan Sun, and Tongjiang Peng, 

Energy. (Subscription may be required.)

Application of a dual tubing CO2 injection-water production horizontal 

well pattern for improving the CO2 storage capacity and reducing the 

CAPEX: A case study in Pohang basin, Korea.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Water production is an 

efficient way of relieving pressure build-up and improving the CO2 storage 

capacity (CSC) in the carbon capture and storage process. The additional 

offshore platforms, production wells, pipelines, and pumps required for water 

production, however, increase the capital expenditure (CAPEX) of the project. 

Therefore, a CO2 injection method that can both improve the CSC and reduce 

the CAPEX is needed. This paper proposes a dual-tubing CO2 injection-water 

production horizontal well (DTHW) pattern for improving the CSC, in which CO2

is injected at the heel of the horizontal well while water is produced at the toe. 

The CSC and CAPEX of the proposed DTHW pattern were then compared to 

those of other cases in a saline aquifer in the Pohang basin, offshore Korea. 

The CCSPerformance (CSC to CAPEX ratio) of the proposed DTHW pattern 

was larger than that of a typical CO2 injection with a water production pattern 

for the all CO2 injection-water production rate cases. The proposed DTHW 

pattern showed promising results in that the maximum CSC was improved by 

98.2% compared to a single vertical CO2 injection well pattern and the CAPEX 

was reduced by 37.1% compared to the typical CO2 injection with a water 

production pattern. More CAPEX might be saved if a DTHW pattern is used in an 

onshore platform near a power plant because an additional offshore platform 

and pipeline are not required.” Min Kim and Hyundon Shin, International 

Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control. (Subscription may be required.)

Effects of land use and forest management on soil carbon 

in the ecoregions of Maryland.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “The impacts of forest-related 

land use and management on soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks have been 

investigated through years of primary research and review articles. This 

attention is justified given the importance of land use and management to 

greenhouse gas mitigation, soil and forest productivity, and other ecosystem 

services. However, there is a gap of scale and scope between site-level studies 

that control for sources of variation, producing high-confidence results for 

limited locations, and the broad reviews that offer more general conclusions. 

The present analysis is intended to fill that gap. Here, [the authors] focus on 

six ecoregions of the eastern United States, and integrate meta-analysis of 

published literature with synthesis of geo-referenced soil observations to: 

(1) test whether common land use and management practices quantitatively 

impact SOC; (2) identify key sources of variation in these effects; (3) assess how 

sources of variation translate to decisions about land use and management at 

ecoregional to landscape levels. Results corroborate general trends, such as O 

horizon SOC losses with harvesting and fire and SOC gains during reforestation, 

but provide greater detail about the influence of specific practices and site-level 

controls on SOC stocks and change in the study region. Results also show that: 

(1) harvest impacts depend upon landform and soil taxonomy; (2) harvesting 

forests that are recovering on previously cultivated lands decreases SOC; (3) 

tree biomass and SOC recovery increase concurrently during reforestation; 

(4) specific harvest, site preparation, and fire management practices affect 

the magnitude and variability of changes in SOC. Perhaps more importantly, 

ecoregional classification and soil taxonomy provide spatial frameworks for 

placing quantitative estimates of SOC stocks and changes in the geographic 

context of the study region, providing greater detail and specificity for individuals 

and institutions concerned with SOC management at more localized levels.” 

L.E. Nave, K. DeLyser, P.R. Butler-Leopold, E. Sprague, J. Daley, and C.W. 

Swanston, Forest Ecology and Management. (Subscription may be required.)
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

46

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 PUBLICATIONS

Evolution of soil organic carbon in a carbonaceous glacial till 

as an effect of crop and fertility management over 50 years 

in a field experiment.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Changes in soil organic carbon 

(SOC) content depending on different factors are extensively investigated when 

the soil is in steady-state equilibrium between formation and decomposition 

of soil organic matter. However, studies of SOC formation and dynamics in 

[initially] organic matter free soil are rare. Evolution of soil organic carbon was 

studied in a field experiment established in 1964 on a carbonaceous glacial till 

soil with very low initial SOC content (1.28g kg−1). The effects on SOC content 

changes of bare fallow, barley and different perennial fodder crops such as 

grasses, clover-grass mixture, galega, hybrid lucerne and a turfgrass mixture, 

with or without mineral N and PK fertilisation and manure, were studied. There 

were 19 treatments in total and most had unchanged plant cover composition 

throughout the experiment. During 1964–2014, SOC stock increased in all 

treatments, by 0.11Mg ha−1 y−1 in bare fallow and by at most 0.50Mg 

ha−1 y−1 in the treatment with hybrid lucerne and manure. Average SOC 

sequestration rate was 0.35±0.11Mg ha−1 y−1. SOC changes were highly 

correlated with estimated C inputs and were therefore higher in treatments 

with perennials than with an annual barley crop. C retention efficiency for 

total crop-derived C inputs and for organic amendments was 6.1% and 22%, 

respectively. Water-soluble C measured in 2014 increased linearly with SOC, 

indicating that the quality of recently formed SOC was not strongly affected by 

the treatments. However, water-soluble C as a fraction of SOC was significantly 

lower in treatments with legumes than in treatments with bare fallow or a 

barley or grass crop. These results demonstrate that the quantity and quality 

of C inputs were both main drivers for observed changes in SOC. However, 

C retention efficiency of C inputs was relatively low. This may be related to 

soil texture with high sand proportion, suggesting that SOC sequestration 

rates in light-textured soils may be lower than expected even in case of low 

initial SOC content.” Karin Kauer, Alar Astover, Rein Viiralt, Henn Raave, and 

Thomas Kätterer, Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. (Subscription may 

be required.)

Vulnerability of seagrass blue carbon to microbial attack following 

exposure to warming and oxygen.

The following is from the abstract of this article: “Seagrass meadows store 

globally-significant quantities of organic ‘blue’ carbon. These blue carbon stocks 

are potentially vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors. Here, [the authors] tested 

the impact of oxygen exposure and warming (major consequences of human 

disturbance) on rates of microbial carbon break-down in seagrass sediments. 

Active microbes occurred throughout seagrass sediment profiles, but deep, 

ancient sediments (~5000 yrs. old) contained only 3% of the abundance of active 

microbes as young, surface sediments (<2 yrs. old). Metagenomic analysis 

revealed that microbial community structure and function changed with depth, 

with a shift from proteobacteria and high levels of genes involved in sulfur 

cycling in the near surface samples, to a higher proportion of firmicutes and 

euraracheota and genes involved in methanogenesis at depth. Ancient carbon 

consisted almost entirely (97%) of carbon considered ‘thermally recalcitrant’, 

and therefore presumably inaccessible to microbial attack. Experimental 

warming had little impact on carbon; however, exposure of ancient sediments 

to oxygen increased microbial abundance, carbon uptake and sediment carbon 

turnover (34–38 fold). Overall, this study provides detailed characterization 

of seagrass blue carbon (chemical stability, age, associated microbes) and 

suggests that environmental disturbances that expose coastal sediments to 

oxygen (e.g. dredging) have the capacity to diminish seagrass sediment carbon 

stocks by facilitating microbial remineralisation.” P.I. Macreadie, T.B. Atwood, 

J.R. Seymour, M.L. Schmitz Fontes, J. Sanderman, D.A. Nielsen, and R.M. 

Connolly, Science of The Total Environment. (Subscription may be required.) 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

47

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

OCTOBER 2019

US Representatives Visit NETL.

U.S. Representative Conor Lamb (Chairman of the House Science, Space, 

and Technology Energy Subcommittee) and U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur 

(Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Energy and Water Development 

Subcommittee) visited NETL-Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania, USA) for briefings and 

to tour research laboratories. The discussions and tours focused on effective 

resource development, efficient energy conversion, and environmental 

sustainability. 

DOE Invests in Offshore Projects in Support of EOR.

DOE’s FE selected three projects to receive federal funding for cost-shared 

R&D in support of enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Under DE-FOA-0002005 

“Advanced Subsea System Technologies to Improve Efficiency and Capabilities 

for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) in Offshore Wells,” the projects will enhance 

the potential for EOR in offshore settings by advancing promising proof-ofconcept technologies to reduce subsea facility complexity, increase control and 

monitoring, and enable greater tieback distances to production facilities. NETL 

will manage the projects. 

DOE Invests in Coal Technology Projects.

DOE announced award recipients of federal funding for cost-shared R&D 

projects for advanced coal technologies and research under six separate 

FOAs. The projects cover a range of topics, including CCUS, rare earth element 

recovery, coal-to-products, crosscutting coal R&D, steam turbine efficiency, 

and advanced materials. NETL will manage the selected projects.

NETL Hosts Inaugural Comprehensive Annual Project Review Meeting.

NETL hosted the inaugural Carbon Capture, Utilization, Storage, and Oil & Gas 

Technologies Integrated Project Review Meeting, showcasing research aimed 

at developing novel technological solutions to the nation’s energy challenges. 

“Addressing the Nation’s Energy Needs Through Technology Innovation” 

combined four FE research programs, offering attendees an opportunity to 

share in the knowledge and insights gained from more than 200 research 

projects sponsored by DOE’s Carbon Capture, Utilization, Storage, and Oil and 

Natural Gas Programs. The conference proceedings are available. 

FY 2019 Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index Available.

The FY 2019 Carbon Storage Newsletter Annual Index is available. The 

document is a compilation of NETL’s Carbon Storage Newsletters published 

from October 2018 through September 2019, organized by section.

Report Forecasts Role of CCS in Energy Transition.

DNV GL forecasts the role of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in securing a 

rapid energy transition in a new report. According to the “2019 Energy Transition 

Outlook,” integrated hydrocarbon and renewable energy technologies, with 

support from CCS, have the potential to help achieve global policy goals. 

EU Officials Discuss Reducing Emissions with CCS.

The European Climate Commissioner presented the “Long-Term Strategy to 

2050” at the European High-Level Conference on CCS in Oslo, Norway. The 

plan discusses the role CCS can have in the European Union’s (EU) plans to 

reduce CO2 emissions.

Germany Industry Seeks CCS Opportunities.

German industrial companies are seeking opportunities for CCS in light of the 

German government unveiling policies to meet its emissions reduction targets, 

including carbon storage and use. The German government agreed to a climate 

action plan in September 2019, which includes a measure to put a price on the 

emissions of CO2 beginning in 2021. 

NOVEMBER 2019

NETL Director Delivers Keynote Address.

National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Director Brian Anderson, Ph.D., 

delivered a keynote address at the Lignite Energy Council Fall Conference 

in Bismarck, North Dakota (USA). His presentation focused on state-of-theart energy research and development (R&D) and scientific and technological 

initiatives related to fossil energy that bring together multidisciplinary teams to 

meet some of the nation’s energy challenges. Prior to the conference, NETL 

hosted a program review workshop that covered coal-related topics, including 

carbon storage.

NETL-Developed Model Helps Evaluate CO2 Storage Potential.

FE/NETL developed the CO2 Prophet Model, which is an oil reservoir simulator 

that calculates CO2 retention and oil production for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) 

projects. The CO2 Prophet Model is available online, along with supporting 

documentation, and provides key input to the FE/NETL Onshore CO2-EOR 

Cost Model (currently in beta-testing). Integrated, these models enable rapid 

evaluation of the economics and CO2 storage potential of multiple oil field and 

residual oil zone units.

NETL-Developed Tool Used in Carbon Storage Study.

NETL’s advanced carbon storage estimation tool, the CO2 Storage prospeCtive 

Resource Estimation Excel aNalysis (CO2-SCREEN), was used to assess the 

feasibility of a commercial-scale CO2 storage complex in the Northern Michigan 

Basin (USA). CO2-SCREEN provides researchers and decision makers with a 

mechanism to calculate CO2 storage resources to help assess a site. Use of 

the tool was documented in a study published in the International Journal of 

Greenhouse Gas Control.

Conference Proceedings Available for NETL’s Project Review Meeting.

Conference proceedings are available for the NETL-hosted Carbon Capture, 

Utilization, Storage, and Oil & Gas Technologies Integrated Project Review 

Meeting held in August 2019. The inaugural “Addressing the Nation’s Energy 

Needs Through Technology Innovation” meeting combined four FE research 

programs, offering attendees an opportunity to share in the knowledge and 

insights gained from more than 200 research projects sponsored by DOE’s 

Carbon Capture, Utilization, Storage, and Oil and Natural Gas Programs. 

DOE Invests in Projects to Advance Coal Power Generation.

DOE’s FE selected seven Coal FIRST (Flexible, Innovative, Resilient, Small, 

Transformative) conceptual designs to proceed with preliminary front-end 

engineering design studies. The Coal FIRST Initiative seeks to advance coal 

power generation beyond current state-of-the-art capabilities and make coalfired power plants better adapted to the evolving electrical grid.

Report Released on Investment of RGGI Proceeds.

The states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) 

released a report tracking the investment of proceeds in 2017 generated by 

their CO2 allowance auctions. “The Investment of RGGI Proceeds in 2017” also 

provides state-specific success stories and program highlights. According to 

the report, $315.6 million in RGGI proceeds were invested in energy programs 

in 2017.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 ANNOUNCEMENTS

DECEMBER 2019

US Senate Confirms New Secretary of Energy.

The U.S. Senate confirmed former Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette 

to be the 15th U.S. Secretary of Energy. The official swearing in will occur at a 

later date.

Conference Highlights CCUS.

The Carbon Capture and Storage Association hosted “CCUS 2019: Capturing 

the clean growth opportunities,” which brought together stakeholders from the 

CCUS sector, including industry providers, potential customers, policymakers, 

investors, and researchers. Presentations from the conference are available 

online.

CO2 Utilization Summit to be Held in February.

Active Communication International’s (ACI) 15th Carbon Dioxide Utilization 

Summit is scheduled for February 26–27, 2020, in Orlando, Florida, USA. 

Focusing on the reuse of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and their conversion into 

sustainable materials, the conference brings together senior experts from 

various industries to discuss the sustainable, technological, and commercial 

aspects of CO2 utilization.

Report Highlights CCUS Potential in North Sea.

A new report claims the North Sea has the potential to become a leader in 

energy transition through the deployment of CCUS technology. The report, 

titled “Turning the tide: The transformation of the North Sea,” is a collaboration 

between PricewaterhouseCoopers and Oil and Gas UK. 

Program Looks at Experimental CO2 Storage Methods.

A Canadian group was awarded a grant for an initiative to turn forest waste into 

biochar and store it in soil as a potential and experimental means of removing 

CO2 through carbon storage. 

JANUARY 2020

Report Documents CCS Milestones.

The Global CCS Institute released a report that documents milestones 

for carbon capture and storage (CCS) over the past 12 months. The 2019 

Global Status of CCS report provides detailed information and analysis of the 

global CCS facility pipeline, policy, CO2 storage, and the legal and regulatory 

environment.

CCUS-Supporting Project Launches.

A European Union (EU)-funded project to accelerate the widespread deployment 

of CCUS unveiled its new website. Building on international collaboration and 

work already undertaken, LAUNCH, an international consortium of academic 

and industry partners, will investigate barriers to implementing CCUS. 

Study Shows World Has Sufficient CO2 Storage Capacity.

According to a study conducted by the University of Texas at Austin, there is 

enough storage capacity in the world’s nearshore continental margins to meet 

CO2 storage goals. The study, published in Nature Scientific Reports, shows the 

role CCS has in reaching targets.

Indonesia Drafting Regulations for Sale of Carbon Credits.

Indonesia is drafting regulations for the sale of carbon credits for carbon 

reserves stored in peatlands, rain forests, and mangroves. Officials expect 

the sales to generate up to $100 billion a year, which could be used to help 

Indonesia preserve its rain forests, mangrove forests, and peatlands.

Report Highlights Roles of CCS, BECCS in UK.

According to a report published in Petroleum Geoscience, advances and 

investment in CCS and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) 

can play a key role in helping the United Kingdom advance towards its emission 

targets. 

FEBRUARY 2020

Office of Fossil Energy’s Year in Review.

DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE) shared highlights of work conducted in 2019 

that helped to maximize the use of the nation’s energy resources. Among the 

accomplishments noted was accelerated research and development (R&D) 

on direct air capture of CO2 through carbon capture, utilization, and storage 

(CCUS) R&D. 

NETL-Supported CCUS Demonstration Project Celebrates Sustainable 

Operation.

Petra Nova, an operating post-combustion CO2 capture project supported by 

DOE’s FE, celebrated its third anniversary in January 2020. Administered by 

NETL, the project is demonstrating how CCUS technologies can economically 

support the flexibility and sustainability of fossil fuels at commercial scale. 

Located in Texas (USA), the Petra Nova project addresses capture and 

beneficial reuse of CO2 from coal-based electricity production.

DOE Selects Projects to Create New Market Opportunities for Coal.

DOE’s FE announced the selection of three projects to receive federal funding 

for cost-shared R&D to create new market opportunities for coal. Supported 

through the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) “Maximizing the Coal 

Value Chain,” the projects will develop innovative uses of domestic coal for 

upgraded coal-based feedstocks used to produce power and make steel and 

high-value products. NETL will manage the projects, which will support FE’s 

Advanced Energy Systems Program.

Digital Portal for Sharing CCS Projects Datasets Opens.

The international CO2 Storage Data Consortium launched an open, web-based 

digital portal for sharing reference datasets from CO2 storage projects. The CO2

DataShare online portal will attempt to improve understanding, reduce costs, 

and minimize uncertainties associated with CO2 storage projects by making 

curated and well-documented datasets available to interested stakeholders. 

CCS Facility Provides Capture Totals for 2019.

The carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility at SaskPower’s Boundary Dam 

Power Station located in Saskatchewan, Canada, reported a total of more than 

616,000 metric tons of CO2 captured in 2019. Since the facility came online in 

October 2014, it has captured more than 3 million metric tons of CO2. 

Report Indicates Market Opportunities for Carbon Capture.

A newly released report projects the potential worldwide market opportunities for 

carbon capture, including long-term storage. The Thunderbird School of Global 

Management (of the Arizona State University Knowledge Enterprise) report 

projected the broader economic, social, and environmental benefits per year 

by 2030.

Institute to Help Canada Become Net-Zero by 2050.

The Canadian Institute for Climate Choices was created to help Canada 

transition to a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. The Ottawa-funded 

institute will also provide options to help Canada reach its emissions reduction 

target of 30% below 2005 levels by 2030.

Report Highlights Need for CCS in UK.

A report calls for the United Kingdom (UK) to increase investment in CCS to 

meet its net-zero emissions target for 2050. According to Atkins Global’s 

“Engineering Net Zero” report, the UK will need to facilitate a four-fold increase 

in low-carbon energy, including CCS, nuclear, wind, and hydrogen energy 

generation.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 ANNOUNCEMENTS

Study Evaluates China’s CO2 Emissions Pricing System.

A study, titled “China’s Unconventional Nationwide CO2 Emissions Trading 

System: The Wide-Ranging Impacts of an Implicit Output Subsidy,” assesses 

the overall costs and distributional impacts of China’s planned nationwide 

emissions trading system for CO2 emissions reductions. The study also 

describes how China’s tradable performance standard mechanism differs from 

other cap-and-trade programs.

MARCH 2020

Podcast Features NETL, Carbon Storage. 

DOE/NETL was featured on a recent edition of the Energy Cast podcast, in 

which the focus was carbon storage. The episode covered the 45Q tax credit, 

enhanced oil recovery (EOR), and the RCSPs, among other topics.

DOE Announces Funding for Components of Coal FIRST Power Plants.

DOE/NETL announced federal funding for cost-shared R&D projects under the 

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) “Critical Components for Coal FIRST 

Power Plants of the Future.” DOE’s Coal FIRST (Flexible, Innovative, Resilient, 

Small, Transformative) Initiative seeks to develop the coal plant of the future 

needed to provide secure and reliable power to the U.S. grid. DOE anticipates 

selecting up to 14 cost-shared projects focused on developing the critical 

components required by Coal FIRST and transformational coal-fired systems. 

Responses are due March 30, 2020. 

Report: US Energy-Related CO2 Emissions Reduced in 2019.

An International Energy Agency (IEA) report claims that energy-related CO2

emissions in the United States fell 2.9% in 2019. According to the report, U.S. 

emissions have decreased nearly 1 metric gigaton since 2000.

Saudi Arabia Hosts International Conference on CCUS.

More than 800 participants attended the International Carbon Capture, 

Utilization, and Storage Conference (iCCUS 2020) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

Organized by the National Oil and Gas Authority, the conference focused on the 

role of CCUS technologies in empowering the global carbon economy.

LLNL Develops Program for a Carbon-Neutral California.

The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) released a report outlining 

ways to make California (USA) carbon neutral by 2045. “Getting to Neutral: 

Options for Negative Carbon Emissions in California” offers a three-pronged 

strategy for removing CO2 emissions across the state, leading to the potential 

storage of 125 million metric tons of CO2 underground each year. 

Reforestation Initiative Reaches Milestone.

The Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative planted its 500,000th tree in 

Hawaii (USA), increasing carbon storage on the island. To date, more than 

1,200 acres of former pastureland on Oahu and Hawaii Island have been 

reclaimed and returned to native forest.

APRIL 2020

NETL Releases New Infographic.

NETL released an infographic highlighting the role of advanced manufacturing in 

reducing costs associated with carbon capture. The “Advanced Manufacturing 

to Drive Down Capture Costs” infographic is part of a series of infographics

published by NETL in support of the Carbon Capture Program.

RGGI Releases Interim Compliance Report.

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) carbon dioxide (CO2) budget 

sources participating in the 2019 interim control period were required to 

provide allowances equal to 50% of their 2019 emissions. The 2019 Interim 

Compliance Summary Report contains data regarding CO2 allowances provided 

by CO2 budget sources to meet their 2019 interim control period obligation.

MOU Includes CCS.

Fortum Corporation, a Finnish clean-energy company, and Kvaerner, a 

Norwegian engineering, procurement, and construction company, signed a 

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to identify projects and opportunities 

for technical or commercial operation, which may include plants with carbon 

capture and storage (CCS) technology. 

World Carbon Fund Launched.

A London-based environmental asset management firm launched the World 

Carbon Fund, which ties a percentage of fund investment to carbon storage. 

Carbon Cap Management’s fund also invests in and trades liquid carbon 

allowance certificates, carbon futures, and carbon options.

CCS Policy Forum Convened.

CO2CRC convened the inaugural CO2CRC CCS Policy Forum to develop an 

industry view on practical CCS policy framework that will stimulate CCS project 

investment in Australia.

CCS Forum Held in Washington, DC.

The Global CCS Institute hosted the ninth annual forum on CCS in Washington, 

DC (USA). Experts discussed key areas to advance CCS in North America, 

including enabling access to geologic storage hubs and solutions across the 

CCUS value chain.

MAY 2020

DOE Announces Funding for CO2 Capture Research.

DOE announced funding for research aimed at advancing CO2 capture 

technology. The initiative encompasses two concurrent FOAs: one by DOE’s 

Office of Science (SC) and another by DOE’s FE. The SC FOA invites DOE’s 

national laboratories to submit proposals for research in materials and chemical 

sciences. The FE FOA focuses on applied development of new materials and 

the field testing of prototypes. 

Get to Know NETL.

NETL released a series of “Get to Know NETL” videos highlighting work being 

conducted at NETL facilities. The series includes an overview of NETL as well 

as videos about NETL sites in Albany, Oregon; Morgantown, West Virginia; and 

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

Global CCS Institute Hosts CCS Webinar.

The Global CCS Institute conducted a webinar explaining how CO2 storage 

works and addressing myths and misconceptions. Presentation slides and 

video of the webinar, titled “CCS Talks: All you need to know about CO2

storage,” are available. 

Pandemic’s Impact on CO2 Emissions.

According to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 

energy-related CO2 emissions in the United States could potentially decline by 

7.5% in 2020 as a result of stay-at-home restrictions due to the coronavirus. 

Similar measures enacted by European Union (EU) member states have led 

to the EU experiencing a 58% reduction in daily CO2 emissions, according to 

consultants.

CCUS Project Launches Wiki Page.

The ALIGN-CCUS project launched a Wiki page to communicate the project’s 

activities to non-experts. Integrated into the project’s website, the Wiki provides 

user-friendly access to the project objectives and outputs. The web-based 

platform will be continually updated through the conclusion of the project.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 ANNOUNCEMENTS

JUNE 2020

DOE Announces Intent to Commit Funding for Coal FIRST Initiative.

DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy announced its intention to commit federal 

funding for cost-shared R&D projects through the release of the draft Funding 

Opportunity Announcement (FOA), Design Development and System Integration 

Design Studies for Coal FIRST Concepts. (The draft FOA was issued to make 

interested parties aware of DOE’s intention to issue the finalized FOA later this 

summer.) Projects resulting from the finalized FOA will support DOE’s Coal 

FIRST (Flexible, Innovative, Resilient, Small, Transformative) Initiative.

National Carbon Capture Center Expands Testing.

The National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC) announced expanded testing in its 

future scope of work for DOE/NETL. NCCC is now expected to include testing 

of CO2 utilization and direct air capture technologies. In addition, NCCC will 

broaden its testing and evaluation of CO2 capture technologies for natural gas 

power generation through a new addition to the center.

CCUS Finance Workshop Report Available.

CMC Research Institutes released a summary report of a workshop exploring 

CCUS investment opportunities. Workshop attendees discussed challenges 

that technology developers, industry, and investors may face and potential 

solutions that may be realized while advancing CCUS technologies from earlystage research to commercialization. 

Report Assesses Value, Benefits of CCS.

The Global CCS Institute released a report analyzing the benefits of large-scale 

investment and deployment of CCS. The report discusses the evidence related 

to the value of CCS under two themes: CCS as an essential technology to 

economically meet long-term goals, and CCS as a driver of economic growth 

and employment. 

UK CCC Pens Letter in Support of CCS.

The United Kingdom (UK) Committee on Climate Change (CCC) wrote letters 

to the UK and Scottish governments providing advice on (1) strengthening 

the economy through actions such as redeploying workforces in low-carbon 

industries, including CCS, and (2) targeted funding for science and innovation 

in low-carbon technologies.

Podcast Discusses Carbon Cycle, Carbon Storage.

The “No-Till Farmer Influencers & Innovators” podcast released an episode 

discussing the carbon cycle and why it is more complicated than the common 

perception of carbon storage. In addition, the episode covered the role carbon 

cycling can play in today’s carbon credits program.

JULY 2020

DOE Invests in Carbon Utilization Projects.

DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE) and NETL selected 11 carbon utilization 

projects to receive federal funding for cost-shared research and 

development (R&D). The NETL-managed projects will develop and test 

technologies that can utilize CO2 from power systems or other industrial 

sources as the primary feedstock. DOE’s Carbon Utilization Program aims to 

reduce emissions and transform carbon streams into value-added products.

DOE Infographics Highlight Achievements in Carbon Capture Program.

NETL is developing a series of infographics to help convey highlights and 

achievements of the Carbon Capture Program. New infographics on secondgeneration technologies that have reached engineering-scale testing have 

been published.

DOE-Funded FEED Contract Awarded for CCUS Project.

A DOE-funded front-end engineering design (FEED) study contract was 

awarded for a CCUS retrofit project in North Dakota (USA). Under the contract, 

Fluor will use its proprietary carbon capture technology on the Minnkota Power 

Cooperative’s Project Tundra at the Milton R. Young Station in Center, North 

Dakota.

Global CCS Institute Releases Briefs.

The Global CCS Institute released two briefs. “CCS Development in Southeast 

Asia” focuses on why Southeast Asia needs carbon capture and storage 

(CCS)/CCUS. “Is CCS Expensive? Decarbonisation costs in the net-zero 

context” demonstrates the business-case support needed for large-scale CCS 

deployment.

CCS Facilities Added to Global Database.

The Global CCS Institute added 10 CCS facilities to its global database. The 

CO2RE database now contains 59 CCS facilities (21 in operation, three under 

construction, 35 in various stages of development) with a combined CO2

capture capacity of more than 127 million metric tons per year. 

Report Outlines Role of CCS in European Clean Hydrogen Market.

The Zero Emissions Platform, supported by the European Union (EU), released 

a report providing input on how the European Commission can enable a 

European clean hydrogen market with clean hydrogen from natural gas with 

CCS. The overview of the outline is available online.

RGGI Releases Results of CO2 Auction.

The states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) 

announced results of their 48th auction of CO2 allowances. Auction 48 saw 

16,336,298 CO2 allowances sold at a clearing price of $5.75, with bids 

ranging from $2.32 to $8.00 per allowance. The auction generated $93.9 

million for reinvestment in strategic programs, including energy efficiency and 

greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement programs. Additional details are available in 

the Market Monitor Report for Auction 48.

AUGUST 2020

CO2 Storage Resource Catalogue Launched.

The Oil and Gas Climate Initiative, Global CCS Institute, and Pale Blue Dot 

Energy launched a worldwide evaluation of geologic carbon dioxide (CO2) 

storage resource assessments. The CO2 Storage Resource Catalogue, to be 

updated annually, aims to become a global repository for all future storage 

resource assessments. 

CCS Project Reaches Milestone.

Shell’s Quest CCS project has captured and stored 5 million metric tons of CO2

since its startup in November 2015. Originally designed to capture and store 

approximately 1 million metric tons of CO2 per year, the Quest CCS facility 

exceeded the target at a cost approximately 35% lower than that forecasted 

in 2015.

CCS Collaboration Renewed.

ExxonMobil and Princeton University’s (USA) Andlinger Center for Energy and 

the Environment renewed their collaboration to better understand underground 

storage capacity for future CO2 storage projects.

Fact Sheet on Pilot Test at NCCC.

The CO2 Capture Project released a fact sheet detailing the results of pilot 

testing conducted at the DOE-sponsored National Carbon Capture Center 

(NCCC) in Wilsonville, Alabama (USA). The pilot tested piperazine with advanced 

stripper technology for capturing CO2 from low-CO2 flue gas (representative of 

flue gas from natural gas combined cycle power plants).
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

October 2019 – September 2020 ANNOUNCEMENTS

Companies Invest in CCUS Projects.

Carbon Clean Solutions Limited (CCSL) finalized an investment to deliver its 

CO2 capture technology for CCUS projects across the steel, cement, waste 

management, and refining and petrochemicals sectors. Additional information 

on the investment is available on the CCSL website.

ZEP, European Commission Discuss CCS.

A meeting between the Zero Emissions Platform (ZEP) and the European 

Commission focused on the role of CCS projects, CO2 infrastructure, and clean 

hydrogen in Europe. ZEP presented a set of recommendations for how the 

European Union (EU) can use CCS.

15 Years of CCS Research at SCCS.

Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage (SCCS) is celebrating its 15th year 

researching CCS technologies. Since inception in 2005, the SCCS team 

broadened its reach to a range of international projects exploring, developing, 

and defining the use of CCS technology across sectors, from industrial 

processes and power generation to hydrogen production, waste-to-energy, 

and refineries.

Report Studies Need for CCS.

A new study examines the importance of CCS in achieving carbon neutrality 

in the EU. Eurogas’ study, “A Pathway to a Carbon Neutral 2050: The Role of 

Gas,” investigates different scenarios to help the EU reach its goals. 

SEPTEMBER 2020

NETL Posts Offshore Oil Field Case Studies.

NETL released three case studies regarding offshore carbon dioxide (CO2) 

enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The studies (Horn Mountain Oil Field Case Study, 

Cognac Offshore Oil Field Case Study, and Petronius Offshore Oil Field Case 

Study) provide perspective into the challenges of evaluating offshore CO2-

EOR and CO2 storage potential, and demonstrate the performance of the 

CO2 Prophet Model EOR reservoir simulator. These studies, as well as other 

relevant documents, can be found on NETL’s Search Energy Analysis website

by searching “offshore EOR.”

Carbon Storage Study Update.

Giga Metals Corporation provided an update on its carbon storage research 

program at the Turnagain Nickel Project, located in British Columbia, Canada. 

The research is being conducted in conjunction with the University of British 

Columbia. 

Study Shows CCS Role in Decarbonizing Electricity Grids.

Economists from the Brattle Group conducted a study assessing the costeffectiveness of CCS for utilities in meeting decarbonization goals. The study 

found that opportunities to retrofit coal-fired power plants with CCS at low net 

costs exist, and that due in part to recent tax credits, CCS can be developed at 

a minimal incremental net cost.

Report Covers COVID-19 Impact Analysis on CCS Market.

Fortune Business Insights released a report analyzing the CCS market and the 

impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The report covers market trends 

and key industry developments by end use (e.g., EOR, CO2 capture source, 

and geography). According to the report, the global CCS market size in 2019 

was approximately $1.6 billion and is projected to reach approximately $6.1 

billion by 2027.

RGGI Secondary Market Report Made Available.

The independent market monitor for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative 

(RGGI) released a report containing information on the secondary market for 

RGGI CO2 allowances, including future prices, market activity, and allowance 

holdings. Potomac Economics’ “Report on the Secondary Market for RGGI CO2

Allowances: Second Quarter 2020” addresses the period from April through 

June 2020. The report is part of Potomac’s ongoing monitoring of the RGGI 

auctions and secondary markets. 
CARBON STORAGE NEWSLETTER ANNUAL INDEX – FY 2020

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | OFFICE OF FOSSIL ENERGY | NATIONAL ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LABORATORY

ABOUT DOE’S CARBON STORAGE 

PROGRAM

The Carbon Storage Program at the National Energy Technology Laboratory 

(NETL) is focused on developing and advancing technologies to enable safe, 

cost-effective, permanent geologic storage of CO2, both onshore and offshore, 

in different depositional environments. The technologies being developed will 

benefit both industrial and power sector facilities that will need to mitigate 

future CO2 emissions. The program also serves to increase the understanding 

of the effectiveness of advanced technologies in different geologic reservoirs 

appropriate for CO2 storage—including saline formations, oil reservoirs, 

natural gas reservoirs, unmineable coal, basalt formations, and organic-rich 

shale basins—and to improve the understanding of how CO2 behaves in the 

subsurface. These objectives are key to increasing confidence in safe, effective, 

and permanent geologic CO2 storage.

The Carbon Storage Program Overview webpage provides detailed information 

of the program’s structure, as well as links to the webpages that summarize 

the program’s key elements.

Carbon Storage Program Resources

Newsletters, program fact sheets, best practices manuals, roadmaps, 

educational resources, presentations, and more information related to 

the Carbon Storage Program is available on DOE’s Energy Data eXchange 

(EDX) website.

ABOUT NETL’S CARBON 

STORAGE NEWSLETTER

Compiled by the National Energy Technology Laboratory, this newsletter is 

a monthly summary of public and private sector carbon storage news from 

around the world. The article titles are links to the full text for those who would 

like to read more (note that all links were active at the time of publication).

Click here to manage your Carbon Storage Newsletter subscription options 

or to unsubscribe.

If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions for NETL’s Carbon Storage 

Newsletter, please contact Carbon Storage Newsletter Support.

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), part of DOE’s national 

laboratory system, is owned and operated by the U.S. Department of Energy 

(DOE). NETL supports DOE’s mission to advance the national, economic, and 

energy security of the United States. 

1450 Queen Avenue SW

Albany, OR 97321-2198

541-967-5892

3610 Collins Ferry Road

P.O. Box 880

Morgantown, WV 26507-0880

304-285-4764

626 Cochrans Mill Road

P.O. Box 10940

Pittsburgh, PA 15236-0940

412-386-4687

Program staff are also located in 

Houston, Texas and Anchorage, Alaska.

CUSTOMER SERVICE: 1-800-553-7681

www.netl.doe.gov

Contact

Mark McKoy

304-285-4426

Mark.McKoy@netl.doe.gov

Disclaimer

This Newsletter was prepared under contract for the United States Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory. Neither the United States Government nor any agency 

thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, 

product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade 

name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency 

thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.

Get Social with Us

There are several ways to join the conversation 

and connect with NETL’s Carbon Storage Program:

Rig drilling a site characterization well at the Craig Power Station in 

Colorado, USA. Photo Source: Schlumberger Carbon Services