Lignite Research Program-Grant Rounds 105-100

Summary of Applications

Technical Review Summary

Approval Summary

Continued Funding for Regional Lignite Public Affairs Program

LRC-104-A Application

Technical Review Summary

Phase I Bridge Study for CCS at Coal Creek Station

LRC-104-B Application

Technical Review Summary

Lignite Conversion Reactor Optimization for Commercial Carbon Pitch Manufacturing

LRC-104-C Application

Technical Review Summary    

FY24-104-256: Continued Funding for Regional Lignite Public Affairs Program 

• Sponsor: Lignite Energy Council
• Objective: To sustain and enhance public perception and stakeholder knowledge regarding the importance of coal-based electricity in the State of North Dakota and the surrounding region, promote its benefits, and drive adoption and investment in emerging markets and value-added initiatives derived from the lignite industry.
• Funded Amount: $1,800,000
• Total Project Cost: $3,600,000
  • Final Report 

FY24-104-257: Phase I Bridge Study for CCS at Coal Creek Station

• Sponsor: Rainbow Energy Center
• Objective: This project will support Rainbow Energy Center’s (REC’s) Coal Creek Station carbon capture plant front-end engineering and design (FEED) through Phase I of a bridge study focused on creating the most cost-effective plant while ensuring a high level of reliability.
• Funded Amount: $1,094,416
• Total Project Cost: $2,188,833
  • Final Report 

FY24-104-258: Lignite Conversion Reactor Optimization for Commercial Carbon Pitch Manufacturing

• Sponsor: AmeriCarbon Products, LLC
• Objective: Design, construct, and operate a commercial scale carbon products manufacturing facility in McLean County, North Dakota that will use North Dakota lignite in AmeriCarbon’s patented and proprietary Liquid Carbon Process to manufacture Eco-Pitch, a 100% domestically sourced alternative to coal tar pitch, a critical supply material for the production of synthetic graphite, asphalt binder, and other carbon materials.
• Funded Amount: $743,809
• Total Project Cost: $1,488,809
  • Final Report

Summary of Applications

Technical Review Summary

Approval Summary

High-Value Products from Water Mineralized via Reaction with Anthropogenic CO2

LRC-103-A Application

Technical Review Summary 

FY23-103-255: High-Value Products from Produced Water Mineralization via Reaction with Anthropogenic CO2 

• Sponsor: Semplastics EHC LLC
• Objective: Develop and demonstrate a cost-effective method to mineralize sodium and other Group 1 elements as well as Group 2 elements in produced water with high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) while capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2). 
• Funded Amount: $100,000
• Total Project Cost: $356,494
  • Final Report 

Summary of Applications

Technical Review Summary

Approval Summary

Lignite Energy Council Education Program

LRC-102-A Application

Technical Review Summary

Redundancy Study for CO2 Capture at Coal Creek Station

LRC-102-B Application

Technical Review Summary

Coal Creek Carbon Capture-Geologic CO2 Storage Complex Development

LRC-102-C Application

Technical Review Summary

Engineering Design and Feasibility Analysis for Commercial Graphite and Asphalt Manufacturing from Lignite-Derived Carbon Pitch 

LRC-102-D Application

Technical Review Summary

Williston Basin CORE-CM Initiative-Continued Assessment

LRC-102-E Application

Technical Review Summary

Assessment of Lignite-Based Industrial Residues for Value-Added Product Creation through CO2 Mineralization

LRC-102-F Application

Technical Review Summary

Recovery and Refining of Rare Earth Elements from Lignite Mine Wastes

LRC-102-G Application

Technical Review Summary

FY23-102-248: Education Program 

• Sponsor: Lignite Energy Council (LEC)
• Objective: Educate teachers and students about the lignite industry through in-person connection, community outreach events, and online educational and awareness opportunities.  
• Funded Amount: $450,000
• Total Project Cost: $908,000
  • Final Report 

FY23-102-249: Redundancy Study for CO2 Capture at Coal Creek Station

• Sponsor: Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)
• Objective: To support Rainbow Energy Center's (REC) Coal Creek Station carbon capture plant front-end engineering design (FEED) study by providing critical cost-benefit data for utilizing targeted equipment redundancy to reduce the technological risk associated with investing in a post combustion capture retrofit project. 
• Funded Amount: $837,313
• Total Project Cost: $1,400,000
  • Final Report 

FY23-102-250: Coal Creek Carbon Capture: Geologic CO2 Storage Complex Development

• Sponsor: University of ND (UND) & Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)
• Objective: The objective of this study is to advance development of a geologic carbon dioxide (CO2) storage complex in central North Dakota to store CO2 captured from Coal Creek Station power plant.
• Funded Amount: $6,119,690
• Total Project Cost: $50,400,000
  • Final Report

FY23-102-251: Engineering Design and Feasibility Analysis for Commercial Graphite and Asphalt Manufacturing from Lignite-Derived Carbon Pitch 

• Sponsor: Americarbon Products, LLC
• Objective: Design, construct, and operate a commercial scale carbon products manufacturing facility in McLean County, ND that will use North Dakota lignite in AmeriCarbon’s patented and proprietary Liquid Carbon Pitch (LCP) process to manufacture Eco-Pitch, a 100% domestic sourced alternative to coal tar pitch, a critical supply material for the production of synthetic graphite and other carbon materials.
• Funded Amount: $700,000
• Total Project Cost: $1,400,000
  • Final Report 

FY23-102-252: Williston Basin CORE-CM Initiative – Continued Assessment

• Sponsor: University of ND (UND) & Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)
• Objective: Collect current, field-derived data through sampling and identifying areas that show potential for the development of a new industry as well as drive the expansion and transformation of the existing coal and coal-based resources industry in the Williston Basin to produce REEs, CMs, and CBPs.
• Funded Amount: $1,050,000
• Total Project Cost: $2,100,000
  • Final Report 

FY23-102-253: Assessment of Lignite-Based Industrial Residues for Value-Added Product Creation through CO2 Mineralization

• Sponsor: University of ND (UND) 
• Objective: Assess the techno-economic feasibility of using carbon dioxide mineralization (CO2M) as an enabling pathway to beneficiation of ashes and dry sulfur scrubber residues produced at lignite-fired power plants that, today, represent both economic and environmental liabilities for the plant owners.
• Funded Amount: $250,000
• Total Project Cost: $1,250,000
  • Final Report

FY23-102-254: Recovery and Refining of Rare Earth Elements from Lignite Mine Wastes

• Sponsor: University of ND (UND)
• Objective: Complete a Front-End Engineering & Design (FEED) study and develop business and financial plans for a commercial demonstration facility to recover and refine rare earth elements (REE) and critical minerals (CM) from North Dakota lignite mine wastes.
• Funded Amount: $2,000,000
• Total Project Cost: $7,999,999
  • Final Report

Summary of Applications

Technical Review Summary

Approval Summary

Enhance Preserve and Protect the ND Lignite Industry

LRC-101-A Application

Technical Review Summary

Lignite Resource Evaluation for Advanced Utilization Opportunities

LRC-101-B Application

Technical Review Summary  

FY22-101-247: Lignite Resource Evaluation for Advance Utilization Opportunities 

• Sponsor: Microbeam Technologies, Inc.
• Objective: Characterize the lignite resources in existing coal mines to provide information on critical elements (including rare earths), waste coal materials, and associated sediments that are critical to the future utilization of the lignite resources.
• Funded Amount: $1,238,994.18
• Total Project Cost: $2,477,994.18
  • Final Report 

Summary of Applications

Technical Review Summary

Approval Summary

Incorporation of Coal and Coal Waste into High-Value Materials 

LRC-100-A Application

Technical Review Summary

Rare Earth Element Extraction and Concentration at Pilot-Scale from ND Coal-Related Feedstocks 

LRC-100-B Application

Technical Review Summary  

FY22-100-245: Incorporation of Coal and Coal Waste into High-Value Materials 

• Sponsor: Semplastics EHC LLC
• Objective: Further the ongoing effort led by Semplastics to integrate coal and coal ash into plastics to make safe and strong building materials. The project would include two efforts focused on 1.) manufacturing with large 3D printers, and 2.) assembling a partial building using coal-based material. The technological target is to provide new improved building materials out of lignite-based resources and economic impact is to provide additional markets for lignite-based resources.  
• Funded Amount: $150,000
• Total Project Cost: $742,050
  • Final Report 

FY22-100-246: Incorporation of Coal and Coal Waste into High-Value Materials 

• Sponsor: Semplastics EHC LLC
• Objective: The proposed project would further the ongoing effort led by Semplastics to integrate coal and coal ash into plastics to make safe and strong building materials. The project would include two efforts focused on 1.) manufacturing with large 3D printers, and 2.) assembling a partial building using coal-based material. The technological target is to provide new improved building materials out of lignite-based resources and the economic impact is to provide additional markets for lignite-based resources. 
• Funded Amount: $700,000
• Total Project Cost: $3,464,583
  • Final Report