Carbon TerraVault Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of California Resources Corporation, announced that the California Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hub has been selected to receive $11.8 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under its Regional DAC Hubs Initiative related to the proposed development of California’s first full-scale DAC plus storage (DAC+S) network of regional hubs. DAC+S is a solution that is intended to remove and then permanently store atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) using low carbon emission energy and provide economic benefits to surrounding communities. This first DOE amount will be used to perform Front End Engineering Design (FEED) studies in 2024 on the proposed DAC facilities in Kern County, followed up with additional funding requests and planned development and construction potentially beginning in 2025. With selection for the DOE funding, the California DAC Hub is also eligible for additional funding from the California Energy Commission.
The California DAC Hub is being led by CTV Direct, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of CTV focused exclusively on DAC+S; Kern Community College District (KernCCD), the community benefits plan lead; and EPRI, a non-profit energy research and development institute. The California DAC Hub consortium is comprised of approximately 40 organizations from across industry, community, tribes, government, technology, national labs, academia, labor, and workforce development. The California DAC Hub is expected to help accelerate the Golden State’s climate leadership and achieve its carbon neutrality goal. It also plans to prioritize surrounding under-represented California communities through transformative benefits potentially including:
- Helping optimize the use of renewable energy
- Utilization of reclaimed water and/or production of new water
- Quality union jobs in construction and low carbon energy technologies
- Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and energy transition education programs
Also Read: Bird Launches E-Bike Fleet in Seattle
The California DAC Hub consortium is pursuing funding to develop a network of DAC+S hubs across the state under the DOE’s Regional DAC Hubs Initiative, as outlined under the $3.5 billion Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), to accelerate the commercialization of atmospheric CO2 removal via integrated capture, processing, transport, and secure permanent geologic storage. CO2 from DAC+S hubs will not be used for enhanced oil recovery. Key to the success of the California DAC Hub will be strong relationships with diverse community stakeholders to develop an equitable, just, and environmentally responsible approach to the project.
The first hub is planned to launch in Kern County, California, and the consortium will look to expand to other locations across the state. Each hub is expected to provide tangible energy transition benefits to surrounding communities, such as high-paying and permanent jobs and workforce development programs for this cutting-edge industry, to help California progress toward its 2030 and 2045 carbon removal goals.
“We are thrilled with being awarded this DOE funding to create California DAC Hub and help California meet its ambitious climate goals,” said Chris Gould, CRC Chief Sustainability Officer and CTV Managing Director. “Innovative solutions such as DAC+S are important to help decarbonize our economy and I cannot imagine a better group than our California DAC Hub consortium, which is made up of amazing and passionate organizations who are committed to working together and excited to take the next step to accelerate the energy transition, and benefit working families throughout our California communities.”
“KernCCD is honored to lead the community benefits plan through the lens of equity,” said Zav Dadabhoy, KernCCD Deputy Chancellor. “As we embrace the technology that will create the jobs of the future, it is incumbent to ensure that the wealth created in the process benefits the people and communities where the projects are located. By working with employers to create good jobs and career pathways, we ensure two-way engagement, transparency and that the benefits are invested to support a clean energy economy, especially in our rural areas. Congratulations to the California DAC Hub team for bringing together community partners, tribes, national labs, technology, academia, federal, state and local officials, and industry to make this happen.”
“The next phase of the energy transition will require both emerging low-carbon technologies and the infrastructure to support them,” said Neva Espinoza, EPRI Vice President, Energy Supply and Low-Carbon Resources, Carbon TerraVault Holdings, LLC. “This consortium aims to drive fundamental advancements on both fronts through a collaborative focus on direct air capture technology and the CO2 sequestration required to realize its carbon reduction benefits.”
SOURCE: BusinessWire