OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY

Fossil Energy and 

Carbon Management

“We designed and demonstrated an additively manufactured 

device that significantly enhances capture of emissions from 

fossil fuel plants and other industrial processes.”

—Distinguished R&D Staff Costas Tsouris

INNOVATING 

materials and sensors 

for low-carbon power 

ENGINEERING 

sorbents, solvents, 

and membranes 

for CO2 solutions

DEVISING AI-based 

algorithms to evaluate carbon storage

MODELING concepts 

using supercomputing 

to speed research 

CONVERTING 

CO2 into chemical 

and sustainable fuels 

such as methanol 

and formic acid

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is focused on the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of advanced technologies to 

minimize the effects of fossil fuel use. These technologies include carbon capture, storage, utilization, and conversion and low-carbon power 

generation.. ORNL scientists and engineers draw on the Laboratory’s world-class capabilities to produce breakthroughs—from new materials 

and chemical processes to applied technologies—to manage carbon dioxide in the pursuit of reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.

Research and Development

Direct-air carbon capture and advanced equipment designs—Developing and 

demonstrating methods to utilize building air systems for direct-air carbon dioxide capture

New materials for direct-air carbon capture—Demonstrating energy-efficient methods 

for carbon dioxide capture using recycled sorbent materials

Conversion technologies—Developing novel hybrid material designs for one-step energyefficient capture and conversion of carbon dioxide into valuable chemical products that avoid 

current toxic approaches

AI, modeling, and data analytics—Developing artificial intelligence (AI) models to predict the 

feasibility and long-term security of underground carbon dioxide storage sites and analyzing the 

feasibility of converting existing oil, gas, and other product pipelines to carry hydrogen

Transformational Decarbonization Initiative—ORNL’s initiative focusing extensive 

fundamental science and applied technology capabilities on innovations for carbon capture and 

clean efficient utilization and conversion of captured CO2

Advanced manufacturing—Demonstrating new techniques for low-cost flexible manufacturing 

of components to support renewable and low-carbon power generation and for direct-air capture of 

carbon dioxide from industrial processes

ORNL scientists developed 

a new class of receptors 

that absorb CO2 from the 

air into aqueous solutions 

and convert it to crystalline 

carbonate salts. The project 

won an R&D 100 award.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed by UT-Battelle LLC for the US Department of Energy January 2023

Recent Impacts 

Additively manufactured carbon-capture technology—Creating a novel device that 

significantly enhances the capture of carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuel plants and industrial 

processes. By using additive manufacturing, researchers custom-designed a multifunctional device 

that resolves the challenge of thermal management when solvents are used to absorb carbon 

dioxide from smokestack flue gas streams. 

Retrofitting equipment for carbon capture—Integrating a multifunctional cooling 

tower to complement existing rooftop HVAC equipment that deploys system controls to 

optimize the performance of both cooling and carbon-capture functions. The cooling tower 

integration allows for the direct-air capture of carbon from the atmosphere.

Reducing cement carbon emissions—Working with industry to develop a 

breakthrough carbon-capture process that will close the loop on carbon emissions 

released from cement plants. By developing, optimizing, and scaling up carbon-capture 

process components that can be integrated into cement plant production, the carbon 

footprint is reduced via technological upgrades.

Evaluating carbon dioxide underground storage facilities—Using tracers to study the 

transport of carbon dioxide injected into the subsurface at the Cranfield site in Natchez, Mississippi, 

is a unique test of carbon dioxide storage security.

Developing coal-derived carbon fibers and graphite for clean energy technologies—

Developing unique methods to convert coal-derived feedstocks into carbon fibers for lightweighting 

advanced vehicles and aircraft and for buildings thermal insulation; manufacturing low-cost, high-capacity, 

durable anodes for advanced batteries.

CONTACT

Edgar Lara-Curzio, Energy 

Transitions and Infrastructure 

Program Manager 

laracurzioe@ornl.gov 

865-574-1749

Michelle Kidder, senior R&D staff

Chemical Process Scale-Up Group 

kidderm@ornl.gov 

865-241-2159

One Bethel Valley Road, 

Oak Ridge, TN 37831

www.ornl.gov/

research-area/

fossil-energy

The US Department of Energy's (DOE's) Most Comprehensive 

R&D Facilities for Carbon Capture and Utilization

ORNL's Grid Research Integration and Development Center (GRID-C) focuses on solutions 

for a clean, modern national power system that prioritizes renewable and low-carbon energy. 

GRID-C features a high-fidelity simulation of every segment of the grid, including power generation, 

transmission, and end use, so advances can be thoroughly developed, tested, and validated 

for deployment.

DOE Building Technologies Research and Integration Center is the only User Facility devoted 

to building technologies research and development.

DOE Manufacturing Demonstration Facility houses integrated capabilities to drive 

the development of new materials, software, and systems for advanced manufacturing 

technologies that support the secure production of clean energy products.

DOE Carbon Fiber Technology Facility is DOE’s only User Facility focused on carbon fiber 

innovation, including the development and demonstration of hydrocarbon-based precursors.

World-class materials development and characterization at ORNL spans unique neutron 

science and nanophase science facilities, the fastest US supercomputer, and other basic science 

capabilities unmatched in scale and scope at a national laboratory. These facilities advance our 

understanding, design, and use of new materials and chemical processes to realize success in 

energy and the environment and provide economic benefit and security to the nation.