Kalamazoo Times

Western Michigan University has been awarded $5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management as part of a $44.5 million initiative to advance commercial-scale carbon capture, transport, and storage across the United States.

"I'm really excited, and I think it's important for Western Michigan University—as well as other universities—because carbon capture, utilization and storage requires a multidisciplinary approach, and who better than a university to lead that?" said Dr. Autumn Haagsma, assistant director of the Michigan Geological Survey at Western.

Team members have captured images of an outcrop of the Portage Lake Volcanics—a potential site for carbon storage—in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) is a technique used to remove carbon emissions from sources such as industrial plants or factories and store them underground to prevent their contribution to climate change. The Michigan Basin has been recognized for its CCUS potential with at least 70 gigatons of CO2 storage available in five key reservoirs.

Western students will have opportunities to engage directly in CCUS innovation through research projects and networking with leading companies in the field. Paid summer internships will be available starting in summer 2025.

Western is one of nine industry and university leaders selected for this DOE grant project. The university will lead a multidisciplinary cohort to create a technical assistance partnership aimed at accelerating the growth of an equitable and environmentally responsible carbon management industry in Michigan.

"DOE is drawing on its extensive experience in geologic carbon dioxide storage to engage and support a wide range of stakeholders in the development of specific regional-scale projects," said Brad Crabtree, assistant secretary for fossil energy and carbon management. "By providing valuable public information and tools, these interdisciplinary partnerships will advance the deployment of basin-scale carbon transport and storage that will enable reductions in carbon dioxide emissions throughout the U.S. economy."

The project will be led by the Michigan Geological Survey team with support from researchers and industry collaborators possessing diverse expertise.

"We'll have experts on transportation routing. We'll have experts on community engagement and understanding benefits and potential impacts," said Haagsma. "We have folks looking at where this intersects with utilization opportunities, and we have other folks that are looking at risks and how we mitigate those risks."

Collaborators include:

- Battelle: Will support efforts in 3D modeling.

- Carbon Solutions: Will lead transportation route analysis.

- Miami University of Ohio: Will evaluate potential risks such as induced seismicity.

- Michigan Technological University: Will explore various types of CO2 storage.

- National Tribal Energy Association: Will assist in connecting with tribal communities.

- Rock Locker: Will analyze synergistic opportunities.

- University of Michigan: Researchers will examine CO2 utilization opportunities.

The grant is funded for three years, aiming to produce resources such as a directory featuring companies ready to develop CCUS projects along with a county-by-county map identifying potential locations across Michigan.

For more WMU news, arts, and events visit WMU News online.