University of Wyoming Test Center Secures DOE Funding for Carbon Capture Advancements
The Wyoming Integrated Test Center (ITC), operated by the University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources (SER), has been provisionally selected for funding by the US Department of Energy (DOE), Cap City News reports.
The funding will support expanded testing and development of carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, removal, and conversion technologies.
The DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management plans to allocate $101 million across five projects nationally to establish test centers for carbon management technologies. These centers will facilitate research in industrial and utility environments to address emissions and advance carbon-related innovations.
Governor Mark Gordon praised the decision, emphasizing Wyoming’s leadership in carbon capture for fossil fuel power plants.
“The ITC supports two vital Wyoming industries—electricity production and enhanced oil recovery,” Gordon said. “This funding will bolster the state’s energy infrastructure while enabling innovative uses for CO2 emissions.”
Established in 2018, the ITC was conceived under former Governor Matt Mead, with funding from Wyoming and private industry partners such as Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The center, located at Basin Electric Power Cooperative’s Dry Fork Station near Gillette, provides facilities for testing carbon capture and utilization technologies using flue gas from the station’s coal-fired power plant.
The DOE funding will enable the ITC to accommodate a broader range of carbon management technologies, including emissions simulation from natural gas and industrial sources. Holly Krutka, SER Executive Director, highlighted the ITC’s significance:
“Novel technologies tested here today could be deployed nationwide, benefiting Wyoming’s energy customers.”
Under the guidance of SER Project Specialist David Lucke and ITC Program Director Will Morris, the center plans to enhance its operational support and critical infrastructure. These improvements aim to accommodate more developers and extend the facility’s operational lifespan.
“Developers testing at the ITC require robust support,” Lucke said. “The proposed upgrades will streamline operations and enable testing of diverse CO2 sources, accelerating the commercialization of these technologies.”
Since its inception, the ITC has hosted prominent projects, including the $20 million NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE and initiatives by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and the Japan Carbon Frontier Organization. Current partners include Membrane Technology and Research, Gas Technology Institute, TDA Research Inc., Colorado State University, the University of Wyoming, and others.
