National Carbon Capture Center reaches milestone in technology testing

This milestone marks significant work by the internationally known test facility to accelerate the development of advanced technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from natural-gas and coal-fired power plants.

"It has been an honour for Southern Company to collaborate with DOE, its National Energy Technology Laboratory and our partners at the NCCC to evaluate and demonstrate next-generation carbon capture technologies," said Southern Company Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Kimberly S. Greene. "I also commend Southern Company's highly skilled employees, whose commitment to building the future of energy through innovation is at the heart of this achievement."

Since its creation by DOE's Office of Fossil Energy in 2009, the National Carbon Capture Center has worked with third-party technology developers – including over 30 government, industry, university and research organisations from seven countries. Located in Wilsonville, Alabama, adjacent to Southern Company subsidiary Alabama Power's Plant Gaston, the facility offers a pathway to move novel technologies out of the laboratory and demonstrate them in the real-world conditions of a power plant. 

Research at the NCCC can simultaneously evaluate multiple technologies at various levels of maturity, accelerating the pace of development. Through the testing of approximately 60 technologies (screened from more than 300 options) the NCCC has directly participated in the reduction of carbon capture costs by one-third since 2011.  

The NCCC also co-founded and chairs the International Test Center Network, a global coalition of facilities focused on accelerating the research, development and commercial deployment of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies. Under the centre's guidance, worldwide CCUS testing collaboration and knowledge sharing is ongoing in Australia, Canada, China, the EU, India, Japan, Korea, the UAE and the U.S.

While technology development at the NCCC currently focuses on post-combustion carbon capture for coal-fired power generation, the facility is expanding its testing of carbon capture technologies for natural gas-fired power plants.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/power/01122017/national-carbon-capture-center-reaches-milestone-in-technology-testing/