The coal industry in North Dakota is taking a huge step towards a more sustainable future. Senator John Hoeven along with energy leaders in the state announced the development of what is currently deemed to be the world’s largest coal-based carbon capture project.
The project will take place at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant in Beulah. And according to Senator Hoeven, “North Dakota is uniquely prepared for carbon capture.” In his own words, two imperative factors necessary for the execution of such a large-scale carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) facility are an appropriate regulatory environment and geology.
And North Dakota has both.
Carbon capture operations at the Beulah Synfuels plant are expected to start by the summer of 2022.
And in addition to being a feat that is highly beneficial to the environment due to the massive reduction of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere, the project will also provide job opportunities for the local community.
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The new plant will also become a reliable source of electricity even in the cold winter months, which makes for another attractive aspect.
While the price of the CCUS project has yet to be named, estimates say it will be in the tens of millions of dollars. And leaders in the energy sector expect there to be immense potential for carbon capture in the region in the years to come.
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Once in operation, the Great Plains Synfuels Plant will be able to capture a massive 1.5 million metric tons of CO2 emissions. And those will be added to the nearly 2 million tons of carbon dioxide that the plant uses for enhanced oil recovery at the moment.
This will make the carbon capture project in North Dakota the biggest of its kind on a global scale and will be a major part of the state’s energy future.
