Project Description

The Desert Research Institute (DRI) and Carbon Solutions LLC are collaborating on an assessment of the CO₂ geological storage potential in sedimentary basins and geothermal reservoirs in Nevada. The general objectives of the project are to perform a regional-scale assessment to fill a data gap of critical information related to CCUS technologies in Nevada, and to develop a new approach to regionally assess the potential that using geologic CO₂ storage in sedimentary basin geothermal reservoirs may have for increasing the states capability for CCUS.

The project has some specific objectives. First, pertinent geologic and geothermal information will be used to identify areas that are favorable for geologic CO₂ storage in sedimentary basin geothermal systems. Then the team will use the model input data to identify “hot spot” locations where CO₂ Plume Geothermal (CPG) power plants could be deployed. CPG power plants use gigatonnes-levels of sequestered CO₂ to generate dispatchable and renewable electricity. They are proven most effective in saline aquifers with high transmissivity in deep sedimentary basins. The team will estimate the power capacity and CO₂ storage at “hot spot” locations under different CO2 policy combinations*. Updated SCO2T-pro software will be use to screen sites for CPG power generation, estimate power capacity and cost of CPG power generation and finally estimate geologic CO2 storage at CPG sites. Some of the workflow approaches used in Nevada will also then be used to investigate CCS opportunities in other CUSP states with sedimentary basin geothermal resources.

The state of Nevada is particularly suited to realize this study. Northwestern Nevada has the highest geothermal favorability with 18 operational geothermal plants and over 65 active geothermal systems that could be developed.