ExxonMobil and FuelCell Energy, Inc. Pursue Novel Technology in Carbon Capture
05 May 2016 - 10:00PM
Business Wire
- Advancing a novel application of
carbonate fuel cells for power plant carbon dioxide capture
- Substantial cost savings relative to
commercial technology through unique process that generates power
while capturing carbon
Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) and FuelCell Energy, Inc.
(Nasdaq:FCEL) today announced an agreement to pursue novel
technology in power plant carbon dioxide capture through a new
application of carbonate fuel cells, which could substantially
reduce costs and lead to a more economical pathway toward
large-scale application globally.
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“Advancing economic and sustainable technologies to capture
carbon dioxide from large emitters such as power plants is an
important part of ExxonMobil’s suite of research into
lower-emissions solutions to mitigate the risk of climate change,”
said Vijay Swarup, vice president for research and development at
ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company. “Our scientists saw
the potential for this exciting technology for use at natural gas
power plants to enhance the viability of carbon capture and
sequestration while at the same time generating additional
electricity. We sought the industry leaders in carbonate fuel-cell
technology to test its application in pilot stages to help confirm
what our researchers saw in the lab over the last two years.”
Chip Bottone, president and chief executive officer of FuelCell
Energy, Inc., said his company is pleased to bring its global
leadership in the development of carbonate fuel cells to this
project.
“Carbon capture with carbonate fuel cells is a potential
game-changer for affordably and efficiently concentrating carbon
dioxide for large-scale gas and coal-fired power plants,” Bottone
said. “Ultra-clean and efficient power generation is a key
attribute of fuel cells and the carbon capture configuration has
the added benefit of eliminating approximately 70 percent of the
smog-producing nitrogen oxide generated by the combustion process
of these large-scale power plants.”
Two years of comprehensive laboratory tests have demonstrated
that the unique integration of two existing technologies –
carbonate fuel cells and natural gas-fired power generation –
captures carbon dioxide more efficiently than existing scrubber
conventional capture technology. The potential breakthrough comes
from an increase in electrical output using the fuel cells, which
generate power, compared to a nearly equivalent decrease in
electricity using conventional technology.
The resulting net benefit has the potential to substantially
reduce costs associated with carbon capture for natural gas-fired
power generation, compared to the expected costs associated with
conventional separation technology. A key component of the research
will be to validate initial projected savings of up to
one-third.
The scope of the agreement between ExxonMobil and FuelCell
Energy will initially focus for about one to two years on how to
further increase efficiency in separating and concentrating carbon
dioxide from the exhaust of natural gas-fueled power turbines.
Depending on reaching several milestones, the second phase will
more comprehensively test the technology for another one to two
years in a small-scale pilot project prior to integration at a
larger-scale pilot facility.
ExxonMobil is a leader in carbon capture and sequestration and
has extensive experience in all of the component technologies of
carbon capture and storage, including participation in several
carbon dioxide injection projects over the last three decades. In
2015, ExxonMobil captured 6.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide
for sequestration – the equivalent of eliminating the annual
greenhouse gas emissions of more than 1 million passenger
vehicles.
“We are continually researching technologies that have an
ability to reduce carbon dioxide emissions,” Swarup said. “Most
solutions that can make an impact of the scale that is required are
not found overnight. Our research with FuelCell Energy will be
conducted methodically to ensure that all paths toward viability
are explored.”
Using fuel cells to capture carbon dioxide from power plants
results in reduced emissions and increased power generation. In the
carbon capture context, power plant exhaust is directed to the fuel
cell, replacing air that is normally used in combination with
natural gas during the fuel cell power generation process. As the
fuel cell generates power, the carbon dioxide becomes more
concentrated, allowing it to be more easily and affordably captured
from the cell’s exhaust and stored.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
Vijay Swarup and Chip Bottone will be available to answer
questions from media on a conference call today at 10:30 a.m. CDT.
Dial-in details are as follows:
Company Name: Exxon Mobil Corporation Date/Time: May
5, 2016, 10:30 AM CDT Participant Number: USA: (877) 311-5896
Participant Number: International: (281) 241-6149 Conference ID
Number: 7316844
About ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil, the largest publicly traded international oil and
gas company, uses technology and innovation to help meet the
world’s growing energy needs. ExxonMobil holds an industry-leading
inventory of resources, is among the largest refiners and marketers
of petroleum products and its chemical company is one of the
largest in the world. For more information, visit
www.exxonmobil.com or follow us on Twitter
www.twitter.com/exxonmobil.
Cautionary Statement: Statements of
future events or conditions in this release are forward-looking
statements. Actual future results, including project plans and
timing and the impact of new technologies, could vary depending on
the outcome of further research and testing; the development and
competitiveness of alternative technologies; the ability to scale
pilot projects on a cost-effective basis; political and regulatory
developments; and other factors discussed in this release and under
the heading “Factors Affecting Future Results” on the Investors
page of ExxonMobil’s website at exxonmobil.com.
About FuelCell Energy, Inc.
Direct FuelCell® power plants are generating ultra-clean,
efficient and reliable power at more than 50 locations worldwide.
With more than 300 megawatts of power generation capacity installed
or in backlog, FuelCell Energy is a global leader in providing
ultra-clean baseload distributed generation to utilities,
industrial operations, universities, municipal water treatment
facilities, government installations and other customers around the
world. The company's power plants have generated over four billion
kilowatt hours of ultra-clean power using a variety of fuels
including renewable biogas from wastewater treatment and food
processing, as well as clean natural gas. For additional
information, please visit www.fuelcellenergy.com, follow us on
Twitter and view our videos on YouTube.
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