Draft Carbon Management Strategy to Fast-Track Deployment

The U.S. wants to accelerate the deployment of carbon management systems to continue moving toward the Biden administration’s goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2035 and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided over $12 billion in funding for carbon management projects and the Inflation Reduction Act added tax credits and incentives for deployment of the technology. That money is meant to move the technology from small-scale demonstration projects to actual commercial deployment.

Carbon management involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2), a potent greenhouse gas, from industrial sources and power plants to transporting it for permanent underground storage or converting it into low-carbon fuels, chemicals, and building materials. It is also known as carbon capture, utilization and sequestration (CCUS). There are now 18 commercial-scale carbon capture, conversion, and storage projects involving industrial and power emissions sources in operation in the United States, but the pace of development and deployment has lagged significantly behind other emission reduction technologies.

A team spanning various DOE offices has been working to outline an approach and specific actions to accelerate the deployment of carbon management. Recently, the draft Carbon Management Strategy was released, and the DOE is seeking input from the public about the role of CO2 management.

The strategy focuses on steps to take through 2030 to lay the groundwork for scaling carbon management in the future. It focuses on five areas to position the technology for widespread use. They are:

•       Focus new innovation investments on priority use cases with the fewest decarbonization alternatives, such as industrial sources and power plants;

•       Fund regional clusters of transportation and storage infrastructure: in the regions where it is likely needed most, including through support for CO2 capture projects that can anchor clusters and provide economy of scale.

•       Support the implementation of effective policy and regulatory frameworks by providing technical assistance and detailed analysis to interagency partners.

•       Engage and protect communities, workers, and their environments by supporting stakeholder involvement and ensuring that projects provide good jobs, especially in disadvantaged communities.

•       Build a foundation for global cooperation, especially with developing countries that have a much younger fossil power and industrial base that will be more challenging to fully retool with renewable and electric alternatives in the time frame needed to achieve net-zero emissions globally.

The full draft strategy goes into much more detail about each area. The DOE is seeking input from various stakeholder groups to make sure it meets their needs. The deadline for submitting comments on the report electronically is Dec. 10 by sending them to  carbonmanagementstrategy@hq.doe.gov.

If you would like to learn more about carbon management efforts in the Appalachian region, join us at the Greater Pittsburgh Carbon Capture Conference on Oct. 22 at Washington & Jefferson College, hosted by the Center for Energy Policy and Management. It is free and open to the public.