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New type of power plant could be built in Decatur

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Illinois

A new kind of power plant that doesn’t add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere is being built in the U.S., potentially providing a way for utilities to keep burning natural gas without contributing to global warming.

Net Power intends to build two natural-gas power plants in the U.S. that will have all its emissions captured and buried deep underground. The startup licensed its technology to developer 8 Rivers Capital LLC, which will work with agriculture giant Archer-Daniels-Midlands Co. to replace some emissions from a coal power plant in Illinois. […]

Net Power’s technology uses a new kind of turbine to burn natural gas in oxygen, rather than the air. As a result, the plant only produces carbon dioxide and water as a byproduct. The water can be frozen out of the mixture and the pure stream of CO₂ can be buried in depleted oil and gas wells or similar geological structures.

The required oxygen is secured by separating it from the air, which needs energy. But Net Power says its turbine is more efficient so that, on balance, the overall efficiency of the system matches that of an advanced natural-gas power plant that pumps its emissions into the atmosphere. Another upside of using oxygen is that Net Power plants do not produce any nitrogen emissions, which would cause local air pollution.

* Press release…

One of the world’s first zero emissions Allam-Fetvedt cycle power plants, the Broadwing Clean Energy Complex, is poised to be built in Illinois, generating 280 MW of clean power to help decarbonize the industrial, transport, and electricity sectors. 8 Rivers Capital, LLC (8 Rivers) and ADM (NYSE:ADM) announced today that they have agreed in principle to locate the Broadwing facility adjacent to ADM’s processing complex in Decatur, storing captured carbon safely a mile and a half underground via ADM’s proven carbon capture and storage system. […]

8 Rivers, through its Zero Degrees development business, aims to reach a final investment decision in 2022 and begin operations by 2025. Warwick Capital Partners LLP (Warwick) will serve as a development financing partner through its targeted investment vehicle Warwick Carbon Solutions. NET Power continues to lead the commercialization of the Allam-Fetvedt power cycle technology that was invented by 8 Rivers and will be deployed at Broadwing.

I checked and they’re not asking for anything special out of the omnibus energy bill, but the project is in an enterprise zone, so they are watching the legislation to make sure it has no impact.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 10:59 am

Comments

Hopefully someone with more engineering/science chops than me can answer this: is the CO2 injection less damaging than the types of injections used in fracking?

Comment by Homebody Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 11:06 am
Fully support carbon capture. It’s a mandatory part of trying to avoid runaway global warming over the next 20 years. No way the economics of this project work without a price on carbon. Carbon separation from emission stream is expensive. A 280 MW new gas plant, even with ADM buying the energy, is likely uneconomic in MISO Zone 4 so ADM should be applauded for investing in this technology now to buy down the price long term, to help with proof of concept that could be used around the world, and to bank carbon credits for use in the inevitably carbon-constrained world we’re entering. Good job by all!

Comment by Dutch Elm Down Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 12:00 pm
“the pure stream of CO₂ can be buried in depleted oil and gas wells or similar geological structures”

What is in Decatur to inject that into?

Comment by didn't know that Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 12:12 pm
8 Rivers Capital, home of the groundbreaking new ideas you have never heard of, including this project, a Thor space launch system, and ubiquitous wireless internet.

Comment by Ok Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 12:20 pm
Carbon capture has been discussed and shifted all over central illinois as long as I can remember. So I’ll believe it when I see it.
Also, those geological structures are not air tight. It does seep into the ground.

Comment by Union thug Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 12:50 pm
“This sounds like it involves science so we better be against it.” GOP spokesperson

Comment by don the legend Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 1:10 pm
This is really, really cool.

Comment by Dan Johnson Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 1:20 pm
ADM has an existing carbon capture system in use near their facility. Broadwing will use the same system to plunge their carbon deep into the earth.

Illinois’ limestone base makes for very good carbon sequestering. Remember FutureGen?

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 1:24 pm
“What is in Decatur to inject that into?” There are plenty of vacant buildings /snark

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 1:34 pm
Cool Papa Bell: The CO2 has been and will be injected into the Mt. Simon Sandstone.

Comment by Pius Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 1:43 pm
Anyone know if there is an accepted method used to capture hot air?

Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 1:43 pm
I will believe it when I see it. From future gen to the prairie state generating campus a lot has been proposed but they are very expensive and have a low return on investment. There are a lot of ‘ifs’ in their press release. Maybe if we had a carbon trading scheme it would work but I don’t see that happening.

Comment by Publius Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 1:47 pm
By the way Excelon is a part owner of NET Power. Not sure why they are sinking money into this intsead of their large fleet of nuclear plants which already provide clean power.

Comment by Publius Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 1:53 pm
I love in a town outside of Decatur and would definitely welcome this. One of the problems though is would they be able to find people in Decatur to operate it? Decatur’s been losing population pretty fast. The public school has been failing the students (4 in 10 high schoolers are failing with GPAs of 0.99 or lower) so I doubt they’ll have any luck in the future either.

Comment by CM Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 2:01 pm
Oh, so we’re getting rid of climate impacting pollution by burying it in the ground?

How do we make sure it stays there forever?

How about leaks? How do we make an underground cavern resistant to leaks caused by earth quakes?
This just seems like it is setting up the opportunity to make sure that a whole bunch of journalists and public officials have to become experts on Boyle’s Law when the containment fails and unless they’re using heat and pressure to create limestone, the containment will eventually fail.

Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 2:08 pm
@Pius - Sandstone! Thank you.

Federal credits seem to make up the difference in price to ship to MISO. Also the process doesn’t boil water to spin the turbine, so its a rather unique approach.

Agree with wait and see but with the bug protein plant and now this - the Soy City might have to get a new nickname.

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 2:10 pm
How is this different from the natural gas plant that was proposed for Pawnee?

Or is it more or less the same except they’ve found a deep pockets sponsor in ADM?

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 2:27 pm
- Dotnonymous - Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 1:43 pm:

“Anyone know if there is an accepted method used to capture hot air?”

I believe accurately quoting politicians is the accepted method.

Comment by Tear One Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 2:31 pm
Homebody.

CO2 has been injected into old oil bearing formations for a few decades now in TX, OK and other oil producing states.

There are oil bearing formations and oil production wells in and near Decatur. Pius above says the CO2 would be injected into the Mt. Simon formation, which is deeper than the oil bearing formations.

As for fracking, the primary issue isn’t the fracking itself, but the disposal of the water used from the frac. Very large quantities are used, and after use must be disposed of. Many disposal wells in OK were drilled into the “basement rock” and high volumes of frac water have been disposed of in these wells at high pressure, leading to suspected seismic events (earthquakes). Several disposal wells in OK were closed, which I suspect is why there isn’t a lot of shale activity now, and why OK shale oil production has fallen off a cliff in OK.

It appears the only area with shale oil capable of growing in the USA at present is the Permian Basin. Production rates are falling in S TX, ND, CO and WY. PA, OH, WV, LA and AR shale is almost all natural gas.

Although the energy transition in the US is an environmental issue, it is really also a supply issue. Shale saved the US from $100+ oil for a few years. But US oil production has likely peaked again, and without a transition, US is looking at going back to levels of foreign oil dependence last seen prior to the GFC, likely before 2030.

Comment by BCOSEC Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 2:38 pm
These projects are going to produce a very limited fraction of what will be needed for an “all electric” energy future. A lot of houses have gas heat, gas stoves, gas water heaters, gas dryers, etc.. Most of these houses will need new larger main services just to have enough power available for existing appliances let alone an electric car or two. Will homeowners get federal grants to upgrade their electric wiring? Otherwise most people won’t be able to afford it.

Comment by DuPage Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 3:12 pm
Candy - “How do we make sure it stays there forever?”

The carbon dioxide does not need to be stored forever. It can be a precursor to make other compounds such as methane, methanol or formic acid. If can be as a feedstock to make some plastics but the pathway tends to be pricey. Carbon dioxide is “food” for plants so it could be used to increase the growth of algae for foodstuffs or biofuels. Side note, without carbon dioxide in the air we would not be here. The concrete industry produces huge amounts of carbon dioxide as a waste but new methods are adding binding agents produced from carbon dioxide. Thinks of the ground as a storage tank until the carbon dioxide is needed.

Comment by no relation Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 3:30 pm
“The total carbon capture and storage work at ADM is valued at $441 million, of which the $281 million came from the Department of Energy. The project employs 11 people, ADM spokeswoman Jackie Anderson said.”

That’s $40.1 million per Job created.

Comment by Occam Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 3:48 pm
“That’s $40.1 million per Job created.”

Sometimes economic development projects offer more benefit than just a headcount. Wind farms, data centers & solar projects also come to mind.

Comment by sulla Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 4:40 pm
“I believe accurately quoting politicians is the accepted method.” - Tear One

If only we could harness the energy produced from politicians running in circles…and talking at the same time.

Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 5:57 pm
“Anyone know if there is an accepted method used to capture hot air?”

Voting the bums out.

Comment by Huh? Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 6:21 pm
280 MG is nothing - They are missing a zero on that number for actual change.

Comment by Downstate Sportsman Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 6:47 pm
@downstate - CWLP powerplant is somewhere close to 580 at peak output. So all they do is build two 280 next to each other and there you go.

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Thursday, Apr 15, 21 @ 8:47 pm