Helios-NRG LLC Algae Technology for CO₂ Capture and Conversion
Helios-NRG is developing technology to capture CO₂ from flue gas using a novel algae culture system and subsequently utilize the algae for revenue-generating products to offset the cost of capture. High CO2 capture efficiency and high biomass productivity are a hallmark of the algae growth portion of the technology and have been the focus of an outdoor test program using on-site flue gas from a fossil-fueled power plant at the National Carbon Capture Center. The multi-stage continuous system will be upgraded and scaled-up based on these previous experiences with field testing in 2024 that will study impacts of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide on sorbent performance.
Texas A&M Algae Technology in Continuous Algae Cultivation
Texas A&M AgriLife Research, teaming with Washington University in St Louis, is developing an integrated process to cultivate algae integrating with flue gas flow to produce value-added products and biomass at ultra-high yield and low costs. The project features: (1) a synthetic biology design to trigger auto-sedimentation of algal cells with high solid load for continuous cultivation by periodic auto-cell removal/harvesting, (2) a sorbent that can adsorb CO2, and (3) hydrogel-based nutrient delivery to enhance algae productivity. Field testing at the NCCC will be conducted in 2025.
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA ) Low-Carbon Concrete
UCLA returns to the National Carbon Capture Center in 2024 for the second phase of a project featuring the CarbonBuilt Reversa™ CO₂ mineralization process. First tested at the site in 2021, the process uses CO₂ in flue gas and coal combustion residuals to produce low-carbon concrete. In addition to the concrete masonry units that were successfully demonstrated in the previous testing, two additional use cases – segmental retaining wall and concrete manhole products – will also be demonstrated. The CarbonBuilt technology was a grand prize winner in the prestigious NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE competition.