PRI launches Net-Zero Center of Excellence

Net-Zero Center of Excellence

The Prairie Research Institute has announced the establishment of the Net-Zero Center of Excellence. This pioneering initiative aims to accelerate the transition to a net-zero future through cutting-edge research, global collaboration, and innovation.

The Net-Zero Center of Excellence will bring together research institutes, academia, industry, government, international organizations, and societal stakeholders to enable the development, maturation, adoption, and implementation of net-zero technologies.

“The launch of the Net-Zero Center of Excellence marks a significant milestone in our commitment to addressing climate change and fostering a sustainable future,” said Kevin OBrien, the center’s director.  “By leveraging the expertise and resources of the Prairie Research Institute, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, and our incredible partners, we aim to drive impactful change and lead the way in the global pursuit of net-zero emissions.”

These technologies will be deployed in a manner that addresses the needs of a society in transition due to drivers such as climate change and energy markets. The Net-Zero Center of Excellence will leverage the broad expertise of its partners to train the future workforce to support the adoption of new technologies and processes and ensure long-term success.

Key objectives of the Net-Zero Center of Excellence include:

  • Creating a research engine built on global collaboration to design and deploy at-scale net-zero solutions tailored to regional and global environments and needs.
  • Conducting multidisciplinary and multi-institutional collaborative research to develop holistic solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enable energy-based solutions through renewables.
  • Developing and commercializing technologies that benefit stakeholders throughout the ecosystem and value chain.
  • Supporting workforce development for the transition to net zero through education and entrepreneurship.
  • Driving market transformations by promoting the adoption of net-zero technologies, incentivizing sustainable practices and solutions, and integrating them at industrial scales.

We invite stakeholders, researchers, and the public to join us in this critical endeavor. Together, we can create a more sustainable and resilient future for all.

For more information about the Net-Zero Center of Excellence, please visit https://netzero.prairie.illinois.edu/.

ISTC selected to lead feasibility studies for three Regional Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hubs

Photo credit: U.S. Department of Energy

The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), in collaboration with the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) and the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), has announced the selection of the Prairie Research Institute (PRI) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to lead three Topic Area 1 (Feasibility) Regional Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hubs. ISTC is the project lead. Read the full DOE announcement here.

DAC is a process that separates carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air, helping to reduce legacy CO2 in the atmosphere. The separated CO2 can then be safely and permanently stored deep underground or converted into useful carbon-containing products like concrete that prevent its release back into the atmosphere.

The three hubs are:

Illinois Basin Regional DAC Hub — Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois (Urbana, Illinois) will lead an effort to promote promising technologies that can capture CO2 from the atmosphere and store it in the Illinois Basin – a proven geological storage strata stretching under Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. The Illinois Basin Regional DAC Hub intends to develop cooperative relationships between DAC technology providers, green energy providers, CO2 transportation networks, and companies seeking to pump CO2 underground or use it in industrial processes.

DOE Funding: $2,938,528

Non-DOE Funding: $808,057

Total Value: $3,746,585

Colorado (Pueblo) Regional DAC Hub — Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois (Urbana, Illinois) will lead an effort to promote promising technologies that can capture CO2 from the atmosphere and store it underground and develop a DAC hub that will build upon previous geological studies conducted on the Denver-Julesburg Basin. The Colorado Regional DAC Hub intends to develop cooperative relationships between DAC technology providers, green energy providers, CO2 transportation networks, and companies seeking to pump CO2 underground or use it in industrial processes.

DOE Funding: $2,999,992

Non-DOE Funding: $751,646

Total Value: $3,751,638

Florida Regional DAC Hub — Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois (Urbana, Illinois) will lead an effort to promote promising technologies that can capture CO2 from the atmosphere and store it underground in the Tuscaloosa Group (thick, permeable saline aquifers 4,920 to 7,050 feet deep). The Florida Regional DAC Hub intends to develop cooperative relationships between DAC technology providers, green energy providers, CO2 transportation networks, and companies seeking to pump CO2 underground or use it in industrial processes. 

DOE Funding: $2,778,670

Non-DOE Funding: $791,394

Total Value: $3,570,064

ISTC signs CCS open letter to international leaders

ISTC Director Kevin OBrien is one of the signatories on an open letter that outlines the importance of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the fight against climate change.

While the letter is specifically addressed to international leaders, it is intended to encourage all levels of government and industry to recognize the value of CCS and to collaborate on finding realistic and sustainable solutions that will bring new projects to life across heavy-emitting industries worldwide.

The letter was published by the International CCS Knowledge Centre, which aims to advance the understanding and use of CCS as a means of managing greenhouse gas emissions.

Read the open letter.