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FOR RELEASE: Immediate, January 14, 2008
CONTACT: Colleen Ryan, NYSERDA
518-862-1090, ext 3359
cqr@nyserda.org
NYSERDA Studies Explore Viability of Carbon Sequestration
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced a State-funded research program to determine the feasibility of storing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions—a potent greenhouse gas—in New York geological formations. The public-private studies will be conducted by NYSERDA, in cooperation with research firms, energy developers, universities, and government agencies. NYSERDA is investing $1.7 million in this research effort; this funding is leveraged with an additional $2.3 million in cofunding from research partners.
Paul D. Tonko, NYSERDA president and CEO said: “Carbon capture and sequestration offers tremendous potential in our effort to fight climate change. These important studies will put New York at the forefront of carbon sequestration research in the region and will bring us one step closer to commercializing capture and sequestration technologies.”
Carbon dioxide capture and geological sequestration (CCS) is achieved by chemically capturing CO2 at a power plant or other source, before it is emitted to the atmosphere. The CO2 is then compressed and transported by pipeline to an appropriate site to be injected and stored, or “sequestered,” in geological formations deep underground. The technologies used and the storage concept are similar to those used in oil and natural gas exploration.
Two NYSERDA co-funded research projects will characterize the geology of two sections of western New York to determine if sequestration is possible there. A third project will characterize the geology of central New York for CO2 sequestration and assess the potential for enhanced gas recovery in the area—a process that increases natural gas production while also sequestering CO2. A fourth research project will evaluate gas shale formations for CO2 sequestration and enhanced gas recovery potential throughout the state. This last project will build on a current NYSERDA contract with the geologists at the New York State Museum, to assess New York’s shale formations for sequestration potential. NYSERDA and the State Museum have already initiated membership in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership.
In 2006, NYSERDA began its climate change research program. Joint research planning with the New York Academy of Science and stakeholders identified near-term and long-term research goals for New York in CCS, including detailed characterization of New York’s geological formations as potential storage sites. The program will also seek to develop New York’s strategic technical capability by assisting New York State companies and universities to lead in this global effort; to leverage federal and private industry funds for demonstrations; and to assess terrestrial sequestration options (e.g., soil management practices, reforestation). NYSERDA is also supporting research to advance long-term research goals of storing CO2 in ocean sediments and for CO2 mineralization, a chemical process that reacts CO2 gas with minerals to create a stable solid like calcium carbonate.
Participants and co-funders in the NYSERDA sequestration research effort include: Advanced Resources International (Arlington, VA); AES Eastern Energy (Ithaca, NY); Ansbro (Denver, CO); Battelle (Columbus, OH); BQ Energy (Patterson, NY); Columbia University (New York, NY); Cornell University (Ithaca, NY); Covalent Energy (Salt Lake City, UT); Dresser Rand (Houston, TX); Ecology & Environment (Lancaster, NY); Foster Wheeler (Clinton, NJ); Geomatrix (Amherst, NY); the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities (Jamestown, NY); the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (Palisades, NY); Nornew (Amherst, NY); the NYS Museum (Albany, NY); Praxair (Tarrytown, NY); Process Energy Solutions (Patterson, NY); Schlumberger Data & Consulting Service (Pittsburgh, PA); SUNY Buffalo (Buffalo, NY); and Talisman Energy (Calgary, Alberta).
“These efforts to explore CO2 sequestration are one of several State strategies being pursued by the Spitzer Administration to reduce greenhouse gases,” said Tonko. Other steps include the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative , and the Governor’s “15 x 15” plan to reduce electricity consumption by 15 percent by the year 2015, which is the subject of a current proceeding at the Public Service Commission.
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