As pressure mounts on coal-and natural-gas-fired power plants—as well as cement kilns—to reduce CO2 emissions, researchers are looking to not only capture and store those emissions but also to convert CO2 into marketable products.
Construction of a $20-million Integrated Test Center for such research broke ground in May at the Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s Dry Fork Station, Wyoming. It is to be a demonstration facility to let up to five teams simultaneously test the commercial viability of processes to convert CO2 into high-value products, ranging from biofuels, to carbon fibers and construction materials. The facility will have five 23,000-sq-ft bays; there, processes will be run using coal-based flue gas from a co-located power plant.