Abu Dhabi: Masdar is investing Dh2.57 million in a high potential carbon capture technology research project in collaboration with RTI International, an independent non-profit research institute, the company said in an emailed statement Tuesday.

Masdar said that the research project is "set to revolutionise the carbon capture and storage (CCS) space.

"The project will examine the use of solid sorbent technology for the capture of carbon dioxide from coal and gas-fired power station flue gases, targeting a significant cost reduction in carbon dioxide capture over the best available technology today," it said.

Masdar and the US Department of Energy (DoE) are co-funding the research project in which the DoE will contribute $3 million and Masdar will contribute $700,000.

Research will take place in both RTI International labs in the US as well as at Masdar Institute labs in Abu Dhabi.

Beneficial energy

The DoE and Masdar signed a memorandum of understanding in 2010 aimed at establishing a framework for mutually beneficial energy cooperation and various forms of collaboration in eight areas including carbon capture technologies.

RTI International has been a research partner of the DoE for more than 25 years, with about 11 years of work in the field of carbon capture through a dedicated research and development team.

"The project is an important step in developing a carbon capture technology with great potential, which will help combat climate change.

"Carbon capture technologies allow the continued use of oil, gas, and coal resources without the climate change impact," Badr Al Lamki, associate director of Masdar Carbon, told Gulf News.

Power production

"The project is a technology development initiative that aims to develop low cost, simple, robust, easy to operate, and environmentally friendly carbon capture technology," he said.

Carbon capture and storage technology aims to capture carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere during the combustion of fossil fuels for power production or other industrial purposes.

The captured carbon dioxide can then be transported via pipelines and sequestered in deep geological formations.

Extending scope

Masdar Institute is also working with RTI International to extend the research scope into the technology's application for gas-fired power station flue gases.

The other participants in the project include Pennsylvania State University, which will bring the novel sorbent material to the project, Sud-Chemie Inc, which will produce the sorbent for large-scale testing, and Foster Wheeler US, which will provide technology assessment and engineering expertise.