A method of converting captured carbon dioxide (CO2) into methane developed by researchers at the US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) could see carbon capture costs being reduced by a significant amount, according to the study.
Using a solvent known as EEMPA the researchers were able take CO2 from power plant flue gas before binding it and turning it into useful chemicals such as methane.
This method was found to be considerably cheaper than the existing process of methane conversion. The research discovered that the initial investment cost was 32% lower, operation and maintenance costs 35% lower, and the overall selling price of the synthetic natural gas being reduced by 12%.
The study follows previous PNNL research which found that, by using EEMPA in power plants, carbon capture could be reduced by 19% compared with standard industry costs.
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