8 Rivers Capital, a global developer of carbon capture technologies, has partnered with the Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) to assess the feasibility of a gigawatt-scale coal power plant using advanced low-carbon technology.
The project, supported by Siemens Energy, would be located near an existing NTEC coal mine, either at the Navajo Mine on the Navajo Nation or in the Powder River Basin.
The proposed plant would use the Allam-Fetvedt Cycle (AFC), a proprietary process from 8 Rivers that enables near-zero-emission power generation by using supercritical CO2 instead of steam. The system captures nearly all carbon emissions, producing only water and pipeline-ready CO2.
If built, the facility could deliver up to 1,000 MW of reliable baseload power while capturing around 8 million metric tons of CO2 annually.
Its proximity to NTEC’s Navajo Park Electrical Switching Station would streamline interconnection to the grid, avoiding typical infrastructure delays.
The study will also evaluate carbon transport and storage options, including permanent geological storage and enhanced oil recovery. NTEC would provide fuel and operate the plant, while 8 Rivers and Siemens Energy would lead on technology and development.
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The initiative aligns with the Navajo Nation’s energy policy focused on economic development, job creation, and energy independence. The project has the potential to generate hundreds of jobs and a new revenue stream for the Navajo Nation.
In addition to supporting regional energy demand — especially from data centers and AI applications — the project fits within national efforts to expand clean coal infrastructure and New Mexico’s renewable energy goals.
As intermittent renewables scale, dispatchable low-carbon power like AFC may play a crucial role in grid stability.
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“Pragmatic, scalable, ultra-low-carbon technologies will foster continued economic prosperity, clean air, and energy security for communities like the Navajo Nation and others across New Mexico and the Powder River Basin,” said Damian Beauchamp, CEO of 8 Rivers.
“We’re incredibly proud to be working with NTEC and our partners at Siemens Energy on this project, which we truly believe is a testament to the region and community’s rich energy production history and a strategic investment into its long-term energy independence.”
