Capturing CO2 to Produce Clean Energy
This project aimed to demonstrate a pilot-scale Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC) system that was expected to simultaneously generate electricity and capture carbon dioxide from industrial flue gas. It was funded through Round 10: Open Call in 2021, and after completing front-end engineering and design (FEED) study, the project was ultimately cancelled.
Instead of removing and storing the CO2, the MCFC used it to stimulate an electrochemical reaction to produce power. This approach allowed the system to actively pull CO₂ out of the exhaust while also producing clean electricity, unlike traditional carbon capture systems that require large amounts of energy just to separate and compress CO₂. By combining power generation with carbon capture in a single, integrated unit, the technology introduced a more energy-efficient and space-saving alternative for heavy industry looking to lower emissions.
Learning from Planning and Design Work for Future Efforts
During this project, the team completed the FEED phase, which involved detailed planning, simulations and design work to prepare for building and operating a pilot-scale MCFC system. The goal was to install the system and capture between 70 and 90 per cent of the CO2 in the flue gas stream being treated. However, the funding relationship with the project was ultimately terminated, and Canadian Natural Resources did not proceed with construction or operation. If the project had moved forward, the pilot intended to operate for at least one year to test how well the system captured CO₂, how efficiently it produced power and how it performed under different operating conditions. While there were no operational learnings, the project helped build knowledge around integrating MCFC technology into industrial sites, which may support future efforts to develop similar systems.
What’s next?
Since the funding relationship was terminated in 2023, ERA is not aware of any further work by Canadian Natural Resources Limited to develop this technology. The technology itself remains under research in academia and smaller startups, but industry focus has shifted toward larger carbon capture initiatives and more commercially mature direct air capture technologies.