Assessment of the technology readiness of post-combustion CO2 capture technologies

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has an active program to review and conduct technical due diligence on emerging post-combustion CO2 capture technologies. The capture technology types include absorption, adsorption, membrane separation, mineralization and biofixation based capture processes for either new or retrofit applications with coal fired power plants. In addition to collecting and characterizing key process and performance data, each of the ninety two processes reviewed was assigned a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and, when possible, the progression of the technology through TRL steps was recorded. The resulting body of work provides a unique perspective on the relative rates of maturity of capture technologies across all classes. More important, it provides insights into the actual rates of commercialization. This information helps stakeholders better understand the rate at which capture technologies develop and when capture technologies at different stages of development might reach the market. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.