GHG Monitor
12/4/2015
ON THE INTERNATIONAL FRONT
Canada-based carbon capture technology developer CO2 Solutions said last week it has received $350,000 CAD from Natural Resources Canada’s ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative to support testing of the company’s rotating packed bed (RPB) carbon capture technology. Initial testing at a scale of 0.5 tonnes per day (tpd) of CO2 captured suggested the technology can lead to a 20-fold reduction in the size of capture equipment as compared to a conventional packed tower approach. The new funding will support larger-scale testing of the technology. “Based on the earlier communicated results from our bench tests, the new RPB technology has the potential of making a significant contribution towards the convergence of the cost of capturing and emitting CO2, positioning us well to enter the potentially very large regulated market,” Evan Price, president and CEO of CO2 Solutions, said in a company release.
IN INDUSTRY
David Crane, who has served as president and CEO of NRG Energy for 12 years, is stepping down effective immediately, the company announced Thursday. Crane will be replaced by Mauricio Gutierrez, who has served as executive vice president and chief operating officer since July 2010 and has been with the company since 2004. “During more than 12 years at the helm of NRG, Mr. Crane led the company from emergence from bankruptcy to its current position as leader in the wholesale and retail energy markets,” Howard E. Cosgrove, chairman of the NRG Board, said in a company press release. “The Board thanks Mr. Crane for his leadership that helped transform NRG into the Company it is today.” NRG’s Petra Nova Carbon Capture and Storage project is currently under construction in Thompsons, Texas. Crane’s departure from the company is likely due to a recent stock tumble and the resulting dissatisfaction of investors, the New York Times has reported.
