Florida Regional DAC Hub

DOE-funded project to test carbon capture technologies in Florida panhandle

Consent-based siting and community engagement key to determining the feasibility of Regional DAC Hub

Carbon America is collaborating with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and a host of technology partners on the feasibility of developing the Florida Regional Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hub.

The project was awarded $2.9 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under its Regional DAC Hubs Initiative to explore promising technologies that can capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and store it underground.

Carbon America will lead efforts to integrate a DAC facility into a regional carbon storage site around Bay County, a region that has been economically depressed and struggling with the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.

CO2 storage capacity will be explored in the Tuscaloosa Group, a well-studied geological storage strata that contains rock layers ideal for trapping CO2 for centuries in thick, permeable saline aquifers 4,920-7,050 feet deep.

The project aims to develop cooperative relationships among DAC technology providers, green energy providers, CO2 transportation networks, and companies seeking to inject CO2 underground or use it in industrial processes.

This phase of study will determine the Hub operations structure, and the feasibility of the cooperative Hub to economically remove at least 50,000 metric tons of CO2 per year.

Goal: 50,000 tons of CO2 captured annually

Equivalent to taking 10,000 passenger vehicles off the road.

Heirloom and General Electric will provide the DAC technologies for initial feasibility analyses.

Heirloom prioritizes siting facilities on non-arable land and deploying technology in fossil energy communities to provide high-paying, climate-friendly jobs that can also drive investment in education and reskilling.

GE has committed to growing its low-carbon and renewable energy business to advance decarbonization technology.

Photo Credit: DOE

Heirloom and GE to advance DAC tech

Collaboration among industry leaders in DAC technology, green energy and CO2 transport and storage

Heirloom

Heirloom’s technology accelerates the natural process of capturing CO2 in limestone, one of the most abundant rocks on the planet.

General Electric

GE will partner with Heirloom to provide the DAC technologies for initial feasibility analyses.

NextEra Energy

NextEra Energy seeks to decarbonize Florida Power & Light generation and provide clean energy sources for DAC operation.

Carbon America

Carbon America will study geologic storage potential in the Tuscaloosa Group, thick permeable saline aquifers deep underground.

Ecotek Engineering

Ecotek will provide engineering services and source local procurement for the Hub project.

Kiewit Corp

Kiewit will provide engineering services and source local procurement for the Hub project.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a proven technology to reduce CO₂ emissions and permanently trap it in geological formations deep underground.

Captured CO2 is transported via pipeline from the DAC facility to geologic formations for storage deep underground.

CO2 injection wells use higher-grade wellbore casing and CO2-resistant cement to ensure containment.

Rock layers above and within the storage formation permanently trap CO2, replicating a process occurring naturally for millons of years.

NextEra Energy will provide inputs related to clean energy sources for DAC operation.

NextEra Energy has about 65 GW of generating capacity in North America and a rapidly growing portfolio of wind and solar production.

Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), a NextEra Energy subsidiary, is the regional electric utility, which is working to reduce carbon emissions from its power geneation.

Decarbonizing Florida’s Economy Through Two-way Community Engagement

The project aims to create a model for responsible, community-centric carbon capture and storage (CCS) from the ground up, inclusive of community feedback in support of sustainable economic and social development goals.

Visage Energy, which specializes in stakeholder engagement for clean energy and carbon management technology projects, will partner to develop a Community Benefits Plan for the DAC project.

Advantages of developing a DAC Hub in Florida Panhandle

Ideal Geology

Advance the development of CO2 injection well permits through EPA guidelines

Industrial Cluster

Growing market for CO2 storage and utilization across large urban centers

Existing Right-of-Ways

Leverage existing industrial facilities to develop transport infrastructure

Renewable Energy

Access to already developed and new sources of clean energy in the region

Economic Development

Supporting industries that can provide construction materials and skilled labor

Workforce Development

Local skilled workers can be trained into new-energy jobs

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Carbon America is collaborating with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and a host of technology partners on the feasibility of developing the Florida Regional Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hub.

  • The project was awarded $2.9 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under its Regional DAC Hubs Initiative to explore promising technologies that can capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and store it underground.

  • This phase of study will determine the Hub operations structure, and the feasibility of the cooperative Hub to economically remove at least 50,000 metric tons of CO2 per year.

  • Heirloom and General Electric Research will provide the DAC technologies for initial feasibility analyses.

  • The hub will serve as a central platform for collaboration between DAC technology providers, green energy companies, CO2 transportation networks, and organizations interested in adopting carbon capture and utilization strategies.

  • The initiative aims to foster knowledge exchange and technological innovation in the field of carbon capture and storage through workshops, seminars, and research dissemination. Community engagement will also be an important part of outreach and education.

  • By promoting the adoption of DAC technologies and establishing a cooperative network, the initiative will play a crucial role in mitigating CO2 emissions and advancing sustainable practices.

  • 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.

  • When the project reaches the construction phase, the engineering services partners will provide details for the RFP process.