NRG Energy's Petra Nova project shows the potential of carbon capture for EOR is not quite that straightforward

December 27, 2019 | Case Study

In February 2018, the U.S. government announced an increase to an original bipartisan legislation for a national tax credit of $50 per MT of CO₂ for carbon sequestration and $35 per MT for both CO₂ utilization and conversion. The previous tax credits of $20 per MT and $10 per MT carbon sequestration and utilization in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), respectively, were completely effective in spurring carbon capture projects in the nation, especially in the power generation sector. There are currently nine operating commercial-scale carbon capture facilities in the U.S., and only of these, NRG Energy's Petra Nova Carbon Capture, captures post-combustion CO₂ from a power generation facility and utilizes it for EOR.