The US Department of Energy‘s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) has announced a new $6 million inititaive to study CO2 transportation from industrial facilities to offshore storage sites in Texas. The DOE is granting $48 million to CO2 transport networks to reduce emissions, foster job creation, and enhance energy security.
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$6 Million for Texas CO2 Transport and Storage Project
The DOE has awarded a $6 million grant that will conduct a Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) study. It will explore the feasibility of creating a modular CO2 transport network linking Corpus Christi facilities to offshore storage sites.
The project builds on prior studies, including pre-FEED analyses and site characterization at Mustang Island and Port Aransas North. This initiative aims to establish a safe and efficient CO2 transport system enabling long term storage and achieveing net-zero emissions.
Brad Crabtree, Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, said, “As we continue to build out the infrastructure needed to safely transport and permanently store carbon dioxide emissions across the Nation, we are exploring a range of carbon dioxide transport options based on regional requirements.”
He added, “By investing in engineering and design studies that advance this critical planning, we are helping to ensure a safe, reliable CO2 transport system to support a clean and secure energy and industrial economy.”
The DOE announced up to $48 million to expand CCS capabilities, supporting regional CO2 transport networks linking emissions to storage sites. This will also help facilities convert CO2 into products such as fuels, chemicals, and building materials.
These FEED studies will explore transportation methods such as pipelines, rails, trucks, barges, and ships to assess how to build an efficient CO2 system. Community engagement will be key, allowing stakeholders to provide input on alternative transport routes and safety measures in these studies.
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The Need for a National CO2 Transport Network
The US aims to capture and store 400 million to 1.8 billion metric tons of CO2 annually by 2050. Achieving this target demands rapidly expanding CO2 transport infrastructure to link industrial sites to storage locations or CO2 conversion facilities.
Since 2021, the DOE has invested over $1.4 billion in CCS technologies, including CO2 transport, to position the US globally. FECM’s investments focus on reducing emissions, enhancing US energy security, and driving economic growth through innovation and job creation.
