Fuelcell Energy project to receive funding from CRIN to design pilot for clean carbon capture

FuelCell Energy, Inc. – a global leader in decarbonizing power and producing hydrogen with a purpose of utilizing its proprietary, state-of-the-art fuel cell platforms to enable a world empowered by clean energy – recently announced that a carbon capture demonstration project using the company’s proprietary carbonate fuel cell technology has been awarded $6.8M in funding as part of Canada’s Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN) low emission fuels and products technology competition.

While emissions reduction and other environmental benefits are key priorities in the CRIN pilot project, other critical factors include the economic benefits that investment provides for Canada. Currently, technologies in use for carbon capture are expensive and consume significant amounts of energy. The FuelCell Energy solution is able to capture carbon from power plant or boiler flue gasses while producing clean electric power, a revenue stream that reduces the cost of carbon capture. FuelCell Energy offers the only known platform that can capture carbon dioxide from an external source while simultaneously producing power.

FuelCell Energy, operating under its Canadian subsidiary, Versa Power Systems, will be the technology and equipment provider for the project. Industry participants include Canadian Natural Resources Limited (CNRL), Suncor Energy, Cenovus Energy Inc., Chevron Canada and Shell Canada, along with support from Emissions Reduction Alberta. The project involves the construction of a MW-scale carbonate power plant that will capture carbon from a process heater at the Scotford Upgrader near Edmonton, Alta. The Scotford Upgrader is owned by Athabasca Oil Sands Project, which is a joint venture between CNRL, Chevron Canada Limited and Shell Canada Limited.

“To demonstrate the power of our carbonate fuel cell technology, and for the project to receive this funding from CRIN, is an honour,” said FuelCell Energy CEO and president, Jason Few. “We are confident that the pilot will deliver the significant environmental benefits that the Canadian government is looking for, while helping to decarbonize its oil and gas industry and increase its competitiveness in the global market.”