The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to seek information from researchers from industry, national labs, academia or other stakeholders for a DOE Fossil Energy Research and Development (R&D) program that may culminate in a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) of R&D for reactive capture of carbon dioxide. 

This is solely a request for information and is not a FOA. U.S. DOE is not accepting applications to this RFI.

DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE) currently funds a large R&D program in carbon capture.  DOE’s FE along with other DOE offices currently fund programs in carbon utilization/conversion to products.  Recently, the term “reactive capture” with regards to carbon dioxide has been discussed as a means to enhance, complement or otherwise improve Capture or Utilization processes.  To frame discussion on what constitutes a reactive capture-based technology, the general scope of the Capture, Utilization and Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology areas will be defined below.

Carbon capture is defined as the physical or chemical separation and concentration of CO₂ from a point source of concentrations higher than those found in ambient conditions, with the end product being CO₂ of a substantially higher purity (e.g. >95%). Carbon capture can be following combustion (post-combustion) which applies to pulverized coal plants and combined cycle natural gas plants or prior to combustion (pre-combustion) which applies to gasification plants.

Carbon utilization is defined as a process, technology, or application which uses CO₂ to generate valuable chemicals, fuels or materials, which have a lower life-cycle impact compared to the standard production of conventional products.

Direct Air Capture is defined as the removal and/or conversion of CO₂ from that in ambient air in such a manner as to result in a net removal of CO₂ emissions from air.

DOE' is issuing this RFI to understand what, if any, unique challenges exist for reactive capture compared to currently funded programs of carbon capture and carbon utilization/conversion.  Additionally, DOE would like to understand the specific technologies that are applicable to the term reactive capture.

Response Date: Jan. 7, 2020