UW SER Hosts Technology Showcase at Wyoming Integrated Test Center

The University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources (SER) hosted carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technology and project developers -- with potential carbon capture customers -- at a Technology Showcase at the Wyoming Integrated Test Center (ITC) Thursday, May 30.

With oversight from SER, the ITC is a public-private partnership dedicated to fostering next-generation energy technology. The facility provides individual test bays for researchers to conduct real-world assessments of CCUS technologies using actual coal-based flue gas from Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s Dry Fork Station near Gillette.

The event provided Powder River Basin coal users, other private entities and representatives of the U.S. Department of Energy the opportunity to learn about different CCUS technologies being tested at the facility and meet with the companies developing them.

“CCUS plays a pivotal role in ensuring the ongoing reliability of energy resources while working to meet emission reduction regulations,” says SER Executive Director Holly Krutka. “A major goal of the ITC is to advance these technologies toward commercialization so that they are viable carbon management solutions, especially for Wyoming coal customers. This event was organized to help Wyoming’s energy customers understand the technology readiness level of different capture technologies and which technologies might meet their individual needs.”

Since opening in 2018, the ITC has hosted multiple projects and events aimed at promoting the commercial readiness of carbon management technologies, including the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE Competition.

Current tenants of the ITC are:

-- Membrane Technology and Research (MTR), which is constructing a large pilot carbon dioxide capture system using its proprietary Polaris membrane technology.

-- Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., which completed construction of its solid sorbent carbon capture technology and has begun testing operations.

-- Gas Technology Institute, in partnership with Ohio State University, which is finalizing the design of a facilitated transport membrane system for carbon dioxide capture.

-- TDA Research Inc., which developed a novel hybrid carbon capture system incorporating membrane and solid sorbent technologies to remove carbon dioxide from flue gas.

-- Colorado State University, along with UW and Living Ink Technologies, which plans to convert an industrial source of carbon dioxide into high-value materials through an algae-based carbon transfer process.

“There is a varied suite of carbon capture technologies currently being constructed and tested at the ITC, and we recognize that there is not a one-size-fits-all solution for potential CCUS users,” Krutka says. “We will continue to look for opportunities, such as Thursday’s event, to support Wyoming Powder River Basin consumers.”

Representatives of each of the ITC tenants, as well as CCUS project developers and advanced technology vendors, presented on the nuances of their technologies, offered individual meetings with coal consumers and provided tours of their operations within the test bays.

“We are grateful to the School of Energy Resources for facilitating this event and allowing us the opportunity to answer questions,” says Brice Freeman, director of carbon capture at MTR. “As we continue the project, we look forward to showcasing our technology during the operational phase and thank the state of Wyoming for their continued support.”

For more about the ITC and current tenants of the facility, visit www.wyomingitc.org/.