Cleaner ethanol, Greener economy
Bridgeport Ethanol Carbon Capture and Storage Project
The Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project at the Bridgeport Ethanol Plant will capture and store 95 percent of annual carbon dioxide emissions during the fermentation process before it can be released into the atmosphere.
The plant uses fermented corn to produce ethanol — a renewable fuel made from plants to oxygenate gasoline and reduce air pollution.
Captured CO₂ will be transported via underground pipeline to a permanent geologic storage site.
Carbon America is working on land agreements and permitting to drill a geologic sampling well to scientifically validate a proposed underground storage site about 1o miles southwest of the ethanol plant.
Carbon America will finance, build, own and operate the CCS system, and monitor the geologic storage site, over 4,000 feet underground, using advanced seismic, air and water monitoring technology.
“The Bridgeport Ethanol carbon capture project is helping the environment, helping the cattle industry, helping the farmers by having a new source for low-carbon grain. It's a win-win for everybody involved.”
— Dave Kramer, general manager, Bridgeport Ethanol Plant
Project Location:
3 miles south of Bridgeport city center
The first phase of the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project starts at the Bridgeport Ethanol Plant about 3 miles south from the city center of Bridgeport, Nebraska.
The captured CO₂ will be transported via an underground distribution pipeline to an injection well at the underground storage site, which will be determined through geological testing based on EPA regulations.
Several locations are being explored. Once land agreements and permitting is completed, the next step is drilling for a geologic sampling well to scientifically validate a proposed geologic storage site about 10 miles west of the plant. It is expected that the sampling well will be completed in 2023.
The CO₂ will be permanently stored in a geologic formation over 4,000 feet underground and continually monitored based on EPA guidelines.
175,000 tons of CO₂ removed annually
The Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project at Bridgeport Ethanol will permanently remove 175,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to taking 38,000 passenger vehicles off the road.
The CCS project will enable the facility to reduce the carbon intensity of ethanol production, and increase their competitiveness in the market, while improving local air quality.
175,000 tons of CO2 captured annually before reaching atmosphere
Equivalent to taking 38,000 passenger vehicles off the road.
Project Timeline: Operational in 2025
The project could be commercially operational in 2025, based on current work schedules, which include allowances for landowner agreements, regulatory permitting and construction. Next steps include:
Finalizing the CCS system’s design-build requirements.
Obtaining landowner lease agreements for the underground pipeline route and CO₂ underground geologic storage.
Completing environmental studies and regulatory permitting required for the project.
Drilling a geological sampling well, which is used to confirm the location for safely securing CO₂ over 4,000 feet underground.
Growing Nebraska’s Biofuels Industry
The project will open new economic opportunities for the ethanol and agricultural industries that contribute millions of dollars to Nebraska’s economy.
The carbon capture and storage project also benefits regional corn growers who sell into the plant, which purchases 18 million bushels of field corn annually. Low-carbon ethanol provides cleaner air and saves drivers up to $0.10 per gallon.
Bridgeport Ethanol Plant annual production
18 million
bushels of corn
60 million
gallons of ethanol
410,000 tons
of wet distiller’s grain
Generating $250 million in local economic activity
Millions of dollars in economic activity during construction
During construction, local businesses will experience an increase in demand for products and services, including hotels, fuel, food and miscellaneous materials.
If you’re interested in becoming a supplier or vendor, email us at info@carbonamerica.com.
Bridgeport Ethanol Project FAQS
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The Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project at Bridgeport Ethanol in Nebraska will capture and store 95 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions from the fermentation process per year from each production facility.
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The project will reduce the carbon intensity of ethanol production at the Bridgeport Ethanol, opening new markets including Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) and Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
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Carbon America expects the projects could be fully operational in 2025.
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The project will permanently sequester CO₂ emissions that would otherwise be legally emitted into the atmosphere.
By increasing the local ethanol industry’s competitiveness, the project supports regional corn farming and cattle operations, spurring economic development while significantly reducing environmental impact and improving local air quality.
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The geologic storage site is rigorously designed to comply with Federal Class VI and California Air Resource Board Low Carbon Fuel Standard permanency requirements. Carbon America is working closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and multiple Colorado regulatory agencies to ensure the project meets all environmental regulations. The storage formation will be continuously monitored during operations.
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Carbon America is designing the CSS system with proven, commercially available technology. There are several commercially proven vendors for capture systems. Carbon America engineers are carefully selecting the most appropriate system for the project.
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The projects will capture more than 95% of the CO2 produced by the plant’s fermentation process, which estimated to be 175,000 metric tons annually.
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The Carbon America team is currently conducting engineering, geology and environmental studies to design the CCS system. The project’s first geologic sampling well, which is used to scientifically validate the location for CO2 sequestration over 4,000 feet underground, is expected to be drilled in summer 2023.
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Geologic sequestration of CO2 has been safely practiced for over 50 years in the oil and gas industry, for instance in the Permian Basin in Texas. Using geology to trap CO2 underground replicates a process that has been naturally occurring for millions of years. The Department of Energy’s CarbonSAFE Program is awarding over $2 billion in funding to accelerate the development of geologic storage projects.
Nebraska’s First Carbon Capture and Storage Project
The project will capture 95 percent of emissions during the fermentation process of ethanol production and permanently store the CO₂ deep underground. Read more
9News Denver segment on Carbon America
CEO Brent Lewis explains why Colorado’s ethanol industry is a good candidate for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), which removes CO₂ emissions from industrial processes and permanently traps it in geological formations deep underground.
Project Technology:
Over 50 years of safe operations in the U.S.
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a proven technology to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from industrial processes and permanently trap it in geological formations deep underground.
