The United States Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE/NETL, or DOE) is currently implementing a program titled “Carbon Capture and Sequestration from Industrial Sources and Innovative Concepts for Beneficial CO₂ Use.”

This CO₂ Capture and Sequestration (CCS) and CO₂ use program is a cost-shared collaboration between the Government and industry whose purpose is to increase investment in clean industrial technologies and sequestration projects.

In accordance with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and Section 703 of Public Law 110–140, DOE’s two specific objectives are to demonstrate: (1) Large-Scale Industrial CCS projects from industrial sources, and (2) Innovative Concepts for beneficial CO₂ use.

Area 1 Large-Scale Industrial CCS Program

The objective of the Area 1 Large-Scale Industrial CCS Program is to expedite and carry out large-scale testing of CO₂ sequestration systems in a range of geologic formations, including the expansion of CO₂ EOR to new settings, while providing information on the cost and feasibility of deployment of sequestration technologies. CO₂ capture technologies must be integrated within existing or new industrial facilities.

Area 2 Innovative Concepts for Beneficial CO₂ Use

The objective of the Area 2 Innovative Concepts for Beneficial CO₂ Use Program is to demonstrate innovative concepts for beneficial CO₂ use, which include, but are not limited to CO₂ mineralization to carbonates directly through conversion of CO₂ in flue gas; use of CO₂ from power plants or industrial applications to grow algae/biomass; or, conversion of the CO₂ to fuels and chemicals. The carbonates produced from the mineralization processes must have the ability to result in permanent storage of the CO₂ through end uses such as cement additives or long term underground storage.