The Prairie Research Institute (PRI) is a world-class interdisciplinary research institute housed at the University of Illinois. By providing basic and applied scientific research, extensive expertise, and a wealth of data, PRI benefits the environment, economy, and people of Illinois through its five unique research organizations. PRI’s energy research focuses on improving technology to reduce emissions, assessing the viability of renewable energy resources, identifying & mapping coal, oil, and natural gas resources, and identifying new ways to conserve energy.
PRI has two research organizations driving CCUS research:
The Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS) leads the Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium, a consortium that has successfully stored 1MMT of carbon dioxide in a deep saline reservoir. The ISGS is leading three CarbonSAFE projects to characterize pre-feasibility and feasibility for a 50 MMT storage complex in the region.
The Illinois Sustainability Technology Center (ISTC) is a leader in carbon capture and utilization working with an industrial consortium, comprising global leaders such as Linde and BASF. ISTC programs develop novel carbon dioxide capture technologies and water management programs for industrial and power generation applications.
Six representative projects under the PRI umbrella include researchers working along with private industry partners with support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and focus on advancing efforts to improve the low-cost capture, utilization, and storage of carbon dioxide:
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CarbonSAFE – Macon/Christian County
DE-FE0029381
Researchers are conducting site characterization for a 50 MMT storage complex in Christian County, Illinois. The area is ideally located to receive CO2 from multiple resources and to provide EOR opportunities, as well as storage, in the region.
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Large-Scale Capture Pilot
DE-FOA-0001788
Researchers will evaluate the feasibility of scaling up advanced carbon capture technology at a commercial-scale, coal-fired power plant. The technology has been validated at DOE’s 1.5 MWe pilot testing program at the National Carbon Capture Center in Wilsonville, AL.
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Illinois Basin – Decatur Project
DE-FC26-05NT42588
A Phase III Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership project to demonstrate the safe and viable storage of 1 MMT CO2 from biofuels.
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Enhanced Oil Recovery in Unconventional Reservoirs
DE-FE0024431
Researchers are evaluating the use of CO2 to enhance oil recovery and store CO2 in residual oil zones in the mide-continent.
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Water Conservation at Power Plants
DE-FOA-0001686
A research team that includes Trimeric Corporation and a major coal-fired utility in Central Illinois, will look at energy-efficient and cost-effective means to reduce/reuse water waste streams within coal-fired power plants.
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Reducing Amine-Based Aerosol Formation
DE-FOA-0001792
Evaluation of two technologies at the Abbott Power Plant at University of Illinois that have the potential to significantly reduce the formation of amine-based aerosols when amines are utilized as solvents for carbon capture. This would reduce one of the concerns for the use of solvents in the capture of carbon.
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CarbonSAFE – Macon/Christian County
DE-FE0029381
Researchers are conducting site characterization for a 50 MMT storage complex in Christian County, Illinois. The area is ideally located to receive CO2 from multiple resources and to provide EOR opportunities, as well as storage, in the region.
