The quest for clean, renewable energy is one of the most important scientific challenges of our time. From vast wind farms to technology that harnesses the power of waves, there are many promising alternatives currently being researched. Until their capabilities are fully developed, however, much of the world will continue to rely on traditional fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas, resulting in higher levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide linked with global climate change.
The Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium is one of seven national research partnerships working to find a balance between our growing energy needs and rising climate concerns by capturing carbon dioxide created in energy production and storing it safely underground in natural geological formations. The MGSC is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) via the Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership Program and by a cost share agreement with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Coal Development, through the Illinois Clean Coal Institute.
Going deep.
How deep? Just scroll to the bottom of this page and explore the numbered links on your journey to see where the quest for smarter energy solutions is taking us.
ISGS-led consortium begins injection of CO2 for storage at the Illinois Basin – Decatur Project
The Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC) has begun injecting carbon dioxide (CO2) for the first million-tonne demonstration of carbon sequestration in the U.S. The CO2 will be stored permanently in the Mt. Simon Sandstone more than a mile beneath the Illinois surface at Decatur. The MGSC is led by the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS), part of the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois.
"Establishing long-term, environmentally safe and secure underground CO2 storage is a critical component in achieving successful commercial deployment of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technology," said Chuck McConnell, Chief Operating Officer for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE). "This injection test project by MGSC, as well as those undertaken by other FE regional partnerships, are helping confirm the great potential and viability of permanent geologic storage as an important option in climate change mitigation strategies."
MGSC is one of seven regional partnerships created by the DOE to advance technologies nationwide for capturing and permanently storing greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.
Click here for full story.
Sign up for our STEP newsletter by emailing Kathy Atchley at katchley@illinois.edu
with the subject line Newsletter.