Mitigating the harmful effects of climate change through research in carbon management.
4,000 metric tons of CO2 per Year and Counting!
We currently remove 4,000 metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere each year. This is definitely a lot, but we still need to remove even more! Check out how Direct Air Capture can help us meet climate goals!
Learn about the problem of scaleLearn &
Explore
Our open source CDR primer represents nearly 40 subject matter experts and addresses the fundamentals of carbon dioxide removal and its role in addressing the climate crisis.
Learn about CDR in our open source primer.
Listen to the authors speak on its origins and impacts in this Kleinman Center Podcast.
What makes serpentine chrysotile asbestos feedstocks a great option for storing carbon for the long term? Find out more in our 2-page explainer on mineral carbonation. Learn about CCS in Jen's textbook
Research
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Current state of industrial heating and opportunities for decarbonization
The IPCC recommends keeping the global average temperature increase well below 2 °C, if not below 1.5 °C, by 2100 to avoid the worst effects of climate change. This requires achieving carbon neutrality shortly after 2050. In the United States, industrial emissions represent 22% of greenhouse gas emissions and are particularly hard to decarbonize, because (1) the processes emit CO2 as a byproduct of chemical reactions and (2) these industries require high-grade heat input. This study focuses on some of these industries, namely cement, lime, glass, and steelmaking. This work details the incumbent kiln and furnace technologies and explores the developing processes with examples of existing projects that aim to reduce carbon emissions, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), fuel switching, and other technological changes.
An overview of the status and challenges of CO2 storage in minerals and geological formations
Since the Industrial Revolution, anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have grown exponentially, accumulating in the atmosphere and leading to global warming. According to the IPCC (IPCC Special Report 2018), atmospheric warming should be less than 2 ℃ to avoid the most serious consequences associated with climate change. This goal can be achieved in part by reducing CO2 emissions, together with capturing and sequestering CO2 from point sources. The most mature storage technique is sequestration in deep saline aquifers. In addition, CO2 can be mineralized and sequestered in solid form by various techniques: ex-situ, surficial and in situ mineralization. Ex situ and surficial approaches may produce valuable products while mitigating environmental hazards. In-situ mineralization uses ultramafic and mafic geological formations for permanent, solid storage. A portfolio that limits warming to less than 2 ℃ by 2100 will include avoiding CO2 emissions and removal of CO2 from air. Regardless of the specific mix of approaches, it will be essential to permanently sequester tens of billions of tons of CO2. Maximizing the potential of all of these storage technologies will help to meet global climate goals. The research agenda published by the National Academy of Science (NASEM 2019) calls for about $1 billion over a 10-20 year time period to advance deployment of CO2 sequestration in deep sedimentary reservoirs at the GtCO2/yr scale and develop CO2 mineralization at the MtCO2/yr scale.
Featured Video
Penn Engagement Days
In the Fall of 2020, CECL moved to our new home in Penn Engineering and the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. Watch as our team talks through the problem of carbon management, discusses Jennifer's interim role with the Department of Energy, and speaks on our experience here at Penn.
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News
Our own Jennifer Wilcox was appointed Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management in January 2021. In recognition of her endless contributions to climate change research, the Biden Administration has placed Jen near the top of the DOE food chain, leading monumental efforts and managing large budgets to aid in our transition to a less carbon intensive future. Congratulations Jen!
The Clean Energy Conversions Lab Members are recognized by the DOE with the Secretary's Achievement Award for their work on the Getting to Neutral Report!
Dr. Wilcox, Dr. Psarras, Hélène Pilorgé, and Noah McQueen were large contributors to the Getting to Neutral report, which highlighted projected pathways for the state of California to reach carbon neutrality by 2045, if not sooner! Check out the full report!
Max Pisciotta wins the Perry World House Graduate Essay Prize!
Max is awarded the inaugural Perry World House Graduate Essay Prize for their essay submission, which outlines the possibility for using abandoned or retired oil and as wells for geothermal energy systems. Check out the full essay!
Team member spotlight
Abby Lunstrum
Abby's areas of focus are carbon mineralization, carbon capture and storage, and separations.
Shrey Patel
Shrey's focus areas are direct air capture, carbon mineralization, carbon capture and storage, process modelling, techno-economic assessment, and low-carbon energy.
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Aline Uwase
Aline's areas of focus are carbon mineralization, carbon capture and storage, materials characterization, and CO2 adsorption.
Shelvey Swett
Shelvey's focus areas are carbon mineralization, separations, carbon capture and storage, and techno-economic assessment.
Daniel Nothaft
Dan brings his background in Geochemistry to several projects in the group, especially those pertaining to carbon mineralization and carbonation kinetics of Mg/Ca oxide materials at near-ambient conditions and their application to direct air capture.
Maxwell Pisciotta
Max Pisciotta is a 2nd-year Ph.D. student in Chemical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and holds a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. Max’s research focuses on point-source carbon capture and direct air carbon capture.
Dr. Hélène Pilorgé
Hélène looks at carbon management with a spatial perspective to find local synergies and optimize carbon management strategies, while recognizing the importance for environment conservation and social justice.
Katherine Vaz Gomes
Katherine brings a background in chemical engineering and professional writing with years of experimental research. Her focus is carbon mineralization of mine tailings to permanently store carbon dioxide.
Dr. Peter Psarras
My research involves techno-economic assessment and lifecycle analysis of technologies spanning both carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) and enigeered carbon dioxide removal (CDR). These analyses inform strategic regional pathways for responsible deployment of carbon management systems.
Jen Wilcox
Wilcox’s research takes aim at the nexus of energy and the environment, developing both mitigation and adaptation strategies to minimize negative climate impacts associated with society’s dependence on fossil fuels.