Innovative Solution for Long-Term Energy Storage: Turning Captured Carbon into Synthetic Renewable Natural Gas
Key Ideas
- Researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have developed a reactive carbon dioxide capture and conversion process to produce synthetic renewable natural gas for long-duration energy storage.
- The process integrates carbon capture and conversion using a dual-function material, eliminating the need for energy-intensive purification and offering a cost-competitive energy storage solution.
- Excess solar and wind energy can be used to produce methane from captured CO2 and hydrogen, making the synthetic natural gas compatible with existing infrastructure and easily transportable.
- The study provides economic feasibility analysis, performance targets, and suggestions for cost reduction and process efficiency to advance the technology towards commercial implementation.
Solar and wind energy, while sustainable, face challenges in energy storage for times of high demand or excess generation. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory researchers have introduced a novel solution: a reactive carbon dioxide capture and conversion process for producing synthetic renewable natural gas. This process integrates both carbon capture and conversion in a single platform, utilizing a dual-function material that captures and converts CO2 to methane. The excess solar and wind energy is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, enabling the reaction with captured CO2 to produce methane. The resulting synthetic natural gas can be stored, distributed, and used with existing infrastructure. The study evaluates the economic feasibility of this RCC process, highlighting its cost competitiveness and portability. By collaborating with experimental teams, the researchers aim to scale up the technology. This innovative approach not only addresses energy storage challenges but also contributes to reducing grid instability caused by renewable energy intermittency. The research sets performance targets and suggests methods to enhance cost-effectiveness and efficiency. Overall, turning captured carbon into synthetic renewable natural gas shows promise as a sustainable, cost-competitive, and scalable solution for long-term energy storage.