Coal-fired power plants provide nearly 50% of all electricity in the U.S. Without implementing carbon capture technology, the projected increase in CO2 in the atmosphere could have serious consequences for the Earth’s ecosystem. Developing new materials and processes to capture CO2 released by coal-fired power plants would minimize harm to the environment while maintaining our ability to utilize coal—a cheap, abundant, and domestic natural resource that holds a significant place in our national energy portfolio. Numerous challenges remain surrounding carbon capture technology despite the past decade of intensive research and development. Chief among these challenges is the unacceptably high cost of capture. Creating new materials developed specifically for capturing CO2 while developing more cost-effective and energy-efficient processes would enable widespread implementation of carbon capture systems, improve our environment, and position the U.S. as a leader in this growing global industry.

If successful, IMPACCT’s contribution to the development of cost-effective carbon capture technology would reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions while allowing for the continued use of low-cost and abundant domestic coal reserves.