DOE awards $ 35 million for methane emission reduction technologies

WASHINGTON, DC The US Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $ 35 million funding for twelve projects focused on developing methane emission reduction technologies in the oil, gas and coal industries. The DOE’s REMEDY (Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy) program to reduce methane emissions every day was unveiled earlier this year for universities and private companies focused on drastically reducing US methane emissions. These projects will support President Biden’s U.S. Action Plan to Reduce Methane Emissions, announced at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in 2021, which aims to reduce methane emissions and fuel American innovation and new technology manufacturing to achieve the To achieve climate goals.

“Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that is more than 25 times as powerful as carbon dioxide, and we need to put technology in place to drastically reduce those emissions,” said Energy Minister Jennifer M. Granholm. “By developing new technologies, we are working to contain climate change and minimize the costs of methane avoidance.”

The following teams selected for the REMEDY program will work to deal directly with the more than 50,000 engines, 300,000 flares and 250 mine shafts that produce methane emissions.

Natural gas engines

  • Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO) will develop hardware to redirect methane emissions to the engine’s turbocharger to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency. (Selection Amount: $ 1,500,000)
  • INNIO Waukesha gas engines (Waukesha, WI) will develop a new line of pistons made by friction welding. The new pistons reduce the space for methane to slip past the combustion zone in the engine and can be installed as part of normal engine maintenance programs. (Selection Amount: $ 2,230,693)
  • MAHLE drive train (Plymouth, MI) will develop a catalytic system to oxidize methane in exhaust from lean-burn engines. (Selection Amount: $ 3,257,089)
  • Marquette University (Milwaukee, WI) will demonstrate their Mixed Controlled Combustion (MCC) system, which can be retrofitted in lean-burn engines. (Selection amount: 3,975,058 USD)
  • Texas A&M University (College Station, TX) will use plasma and advanced motor controls to reduce methane slip. The technology targets the large two-stroke engines used by gas pipeline companies. (Selection Amount: $ 2,824,814)

Torches

  • Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc. (Lancaster, PA) will adjust their combustion chamber design to ensure 99.5% methane destruction efficiency for the highly fluctuating gas directed to flares. The combustion chambers are made from silicon carbide, which can withstand more than 2500 degrees Fahrenheit using a new 3D printing process. (Selection Amount: $ 3,300,000)
  • Cimarron Energy, Inc. (Houston, TX) proposes a hybrid flare design combined with advanced controls to ensure 99.5% destruction efficiency for flares handling both high and low pressure gas flows. (Selection Amount: $ 1,000,000)
  • University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI) will use additive manufacturing and machine learning to scale up their advanced torch. The burner will be integrated into a new flare system that is robust to cross winds and low load conditions which can result in poor methane destruction efficiency. (Selection Amount: $ 2,881,762 USD)
  • University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN) will use plasma-assisted combustion to increase the efficiency of flaring methane destruction. (Selection Amount: $ 2,141,876 USD)

Methane from coal mine shafts

  • Johnson Matthey, Inc. (Wayne, PA) is developing a new technology that uses a precious metal catalyst to burn the dilute methane in coal mine ventilation systems. (Selection amount: $ 4,346,015)
  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA) is developing an inexpensive copper-based catalyst to reduce methane emissions. (Selection amount: $ 2,020,903)
  • Precision Incineration, Inc. (North Haven, CT) proposes an innovative modular system that promotes the methane reaction and manages thermal loads in a novel reactor design. (Selection Amount: $ 3,720,317)

“I am proud of Colorado’s continued leadership in reducing harmful methane emissions. This includes developing innovative technologies that prevent methane emissions from being released not only through the oil and gas supply chain, but also from natural gas vehicles, ”said US Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO). “Methane is harmful to our climate, our environment and our health. This investment will support important efforts to advance innovative methane pollution control technology solutions that will help fuel our methane abatement industry and protect our climate. ”

“This federal grant is another step towards an emission-free future and a cleaner and greener economy. These investments in greenhouse gas-reducing technologies are fighting our climate crisis and creating well-paying clean energy jobs here in Connecticut. I am proud to have PCI receive this federal grant – their commitment to developing cutting-edge clean energy technologies and their incredible team continue to be recognized, “said US Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

“The Department of Energy’s investments in Marquette University and INNIO-Waukesha Gas Engines will strengthen Wisconsin’s cutting-edge research and technological innovation capabilities to create high-paying jobs in the clean energy industry. We appreciate the Biden government’s recognition of helping Wisconsin pave our country’s path to a clean energy future while providing practical leadership in climate solutions, ”said US Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).

“Methane is a 25 times more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. The impact on the climate is devastating, so I’m glad the Department of Energy is investing in Precision Combustion’s technology to reduce the release of methane from coal production. This type of innovation leads us into a cleaner future, ”said US Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT).

“I applaud the innovators at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for winning this important REMEDY award and tackling the climate crisis right away,” said U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA). “This project will indeed help solve the immediate problem of climate warming methane emissions by encouraging technological ingenuity and providing actionable solutions to reduce our country’s methane footprint.”

“Climate change poses an existential threat and has already caused immeasurable ecological and economic damage to Michigan. Investing in R&D initiatives to reduce methane emissions is one of the many ways we can develop the tools necessary to address this threat, “said US Senator Gary Peters (D-MI). “I applaud these grants, which will support the vital work in Michigan to reduce methane emissions and protect Michigan communities – and make them even better places to live, work, and raise families.”

“Colorado is a leader in reducing methane emissions. This grant will help the CSU to develop innovative solutions that eliminate methane leaks and combat climate change, ”said US Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO).

“Precision Combustion continues to demonstrate what talented small businesses are capable of when they are given the right support,” said Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT 03). “As Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, I am proud to have helped secure this funding and I am pleased that the Department of Energy has recognized Precision Combustion’s innovative proposal to eliminate the main source of coal mine methane. As we continue to fight the climate crisis, reducing methane pollution must remain a high priority. Investing in science like this is key to creating well-paying clean energy jobs and developing the technologies we need to tackle global climate change. ”

“Central Texans deserve and need clean, abundant, sustainable, and safe inland natural gas sources. I support research that funds new methods and technologies that will help us approach an abundance of reliable energy and support our domestic natural gas production, ”said U.S. Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX17).

“We have to take tackling climate change and protecting public health seriously – reducing methane emissions is a clear step forward,” said US Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI 12). “Methane is 84 times more toxic than carbon dioxide over a 20 year period and poses a serious threat to our environment, Michigan, and people across the country. I am grateful for the leadership of the Biden Harris administration in reducing toxic methane emissions in the oil, gas, and coal industries and look forward to seeing the University of Michigan’s innovative advances in its reduction technologies with the new REMEDY federal grant. ”

“I am delighted to receive this significant award from the DOE, which recognizes the innovative spirit of the people and companies in southeastern Pennsylvania. As we in Congress continue to drive ambitious efforts to combat climate change, this funding will help ensure that commercial industries across the country have the tools they need to help transition to a cleaner economy while promoting health and safety to protect workers, “said US Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA 6).

“I am very pleased that MAHLE Powertrain has received funding from the Ministry of Energy to develop a system that reduces methane emissions,” saidUS Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI 11). “Federal investment like this helps SE Michigan remain competitive and a leader in the fight against climate change on the world stage. I look forward to seeing these incredible developments in action. ”

The funds for the REMEDY program managed by ARPA-E will be released in two stages over a total of three years. Level 1 should focus on laboratory-based tests that confirm the functionality of technical proposals, approaches and system components. Level 2 will expand the scope of the tests and ideally include field tests.

Further information on the projects listed above can be found in the detailed REMEDY project descriptions.

Comments are closed.