CO2 Capture Using Electric Fields
Critical Need:
Coal-fired power plants provide nearly 50% of all electricity in the U.S. While coal is a cheap and abundant natural resource, its continued use contributes to rising carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere. Capturing and storing this CO2 would reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas levels while allowing power plants to continue using inexpensive coal. Carbon capture and storage represents a significant cost to power plants that must retrofit their existing facilities to accommodate new technologies. Reducing these costs is the primary objective of ARPA-E's carbon capture program.
Project Innovation + Advantages:
Two faculty members at Lehigh University created a new technique called supercapacitive swing adsorption (SSA) that uses electrical charges to encourage materials to capture and release CO2. Current CO2 capture methods include expensive processes that involve changes in temperature or pressure. Lehigh University's approach uses electric fields to improve the ability of inexpensive carbon sorbents to trap CO2. Because this process uses electric fields and not electric current, the overall energy consumption is projected to be much lower than conventional methods. Lehigh University is now optimizing the materials to maximize CO2 capture and minimize the energy needed for the process.
Potential Impact:
If successful, Lehigh University's SSA capture technique would represent an efficient and cost-effective technological development that enables significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions while helping position the U.S. as the leader in advanced energy technologies.
Security:
Enabling continued use of domestic coal for electricity generation will preserve the stability of the electric grid.
Environment:
Carbon capture technology could prevent more than 800 million tons of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere each year.
Economy:
Improving the cost-effectiveness of carbon capture methods will minimize added costs to homeowners and businesses using electricity generated by coal-fired power plants for the foreseeable future.
Contact
ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Karma Sawyer
Project Contact:
Prof. David Moore
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
david.moore@lehigh.edu
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Release Date:
10/26/2009