Lignite Research Program-Grant Rounds 99-90

Summary of Applications

Technical Review Summary

Approval Summary

Project Tundra CREST Study

LRC-99-A Application

Technical Review Summary 

FY22-99-244: Project Tundra “CREST” Study 

• Sponsor: Minnkota Power Cooperative
• Objective: To produce construction ready engineering, scheduling, and pricing terms (CREST) for a commercial carbon capture system retrofitted to a power plant fueled by North Dakota Lignite. The ongoing work in Project Tundra is to complete a front-end engineering design (FEED) study for a commercial carbon capture system retrofitted onto a power plant fueled by North Dakota lignite.
• Funded Amount: $5,415,000
• Total Project Cost: $10,830,000
  • Final Report 

Summary of Applications

Technical Review Summary

Approval Summary

Advanced Processing of Coal and Coal Waste to Produce Graphite for Fast-Charging Lithium Ion Battery Anode 

LRC-98-A Application

Technical Review Summary

FY22-98-243: Advanced Processing of Coal and Coal Waste to Produce Graphite for Fast-Charging Lithium Ion Battery Anode 

• Sponsor: University of ND (UND)/Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)
• Objective: Targeting high-grade graphite from North Dakota Lignite materials for application as battery anodes. The target market is fast charging electric vehicle applications and other rapidly growing lithium-ion battery applications, with other graphite markets as additional considerations. In addition to the material development and evaluation, the overall effort includes a techno-economic evaluation to gauge the commercial potential for the technology.
• Funded Amount: $500,000
• Total Project Cost: $1,545,000
  • Final Report 

Summary of Applications

Technical Review Summary

Approval Summary

Production of Germanium and Gallium Concentrates for Industrial Processes

LRC-97-A Application

Technical Review Summary

ND Lignite Coal-Based Pitch for Production of High Value Carbon Products via AmeriCarbon Liquid Carbon Pitch (LCP) Process

LRC-97-B Application

Technical Review Summary 

Development of Novel Sintered Coal Building Materials

LRC-97-C Application

Technical Review Summary   

FY22-97-240: Production of Germanium and Gallium Concentrates for Industrial Processes

• Sponsor: Microbeam Technologies, Inc. 
• Objective: To develop a conceptual design of a process to extract, separate, recover, and purify germanium and gallium from lignite coal-derived rare earth element concentrates.
• Funded Amount: $20,000
• Total Project Cost: $189,943
  • Final Report 

FY22-97-241: ND Lignite Coal-Based Pitch for Production of High Value Carbon Products via AmeriCarbon liquid Carbon Pitch (LCP) Procsess

• Sponsor: AmeriCarbon Products, LLC
• Objective: Proposing to utilize its pilot-scale, patented/proprietary LCP (Liquid Carbon Pitch) process to demonstrate the successful and economically viable conversion of North Dakota lignite coal into a valuable pitch intermediate chemical used in carbon products manufacturing. A secondary objective will be to outline a development pathway based on performance and technoeconomic results for a next-stage commercial pitch plant based in North Dakota to enhance lignite coal production, high-wage jobs, and increased economic opportunities with pitch and downstream carbon manufacturing. 
• Funded Amount: $550,000
• Total Project Cost: $1,209,794
  • Final Report 

FY22-97-242: Development of Novel Sintered Coal Building Materials

• Sponsor: Microbeam Technologies, Inc. 
• Objective: To develop value-added products from lignite coal for use in the fabrication of a prototype carbon-based building. The team is developing a method for producing high-value carbon-based building materials by using a flexible manufacturing process that can be adapted into either a batch or continuous manufacturing process. The sintered coal building materials (SCBM) technology has been used to produce sintered lignite and additive composites (LIG2) at UND and MTI laboratories, and preliminary analysis shows great opportunity for the technology to be scaled up to the pilot scale and eventually the commercial level.
• Funded Amount: $62,500
• Total Project Cost: $649,407
  • Final Report

Summary of Applications

Technical Review Summary

Approval Summary

Williston Basin CORE-CM Initiative

LRC-96-A Application

Technical Review Summary 

Ammonia-Based Energy Storage Technology-NH3-BEST

LRC-96-B Application

Technical Review Summary 

Determining Optimum Coal Bottom Ash Content for Sustainable Concrete Infrastructure

LRC-96-C Application

Technical Review Summary 

Continued Funding for Regional Lignite Energy Public Affairs Program

LRC-96-D Application

Technical Review Summary 

FY21-96-236: Williston Basin CORE-CM Initiative 

• Sponsor: University of ND (UND)/Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)
• Objective: To focuses of this project is to lay the foundation for 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: $750,000
• Total Project Cost: $2,450,000
  • Final Report 

FY21-96-237: Ammonia-Based Energy Storage Technology (NH3-BEST)

• Sponsor: Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)
• Objective: To model, validate, and define a commercialization strategy for an ammonia-based energy storage technology (NH3-BEST) tailored for North Dakota lignite-fired power plants.
• Funded Amount: $101,390
• Total Project Cost: $426,390
  • Final Report 

FY21-96-238: Determining Optimum Coal Bottom Ash Content for Sustainable Concrete Infrastructure

• Sponsor: UND College Department of Civil Engineering
• Objective: The main objective of this project is to test the hypothesis that there is an optimum content of CBA as a fine aggregate and cement replacement.
• Funded Amount: $118,614
• Total Project Cost: $289,271
  • Final Report

FY21-96-239: Continued Funding for Regional Lignite Energy Public Affairs Program

• Sponsor: Lignite Energy Council (LEC)
• Objective: Seeks to broaden the support of coal-based electricity in North Dakota and Minnesota. The strategies to be implemented for 2021 include promotion of electric vehicles with messaging to increase the power usage in ND generated by lignite-based power plants; increased engagement by employees of the Lignite Energy Council members; messaging to youth; providing studies that show the economic consequence of reduced electric generation from North Dakota lignite-based plants; and promotion of the benefits of affordable and reliable electricity.  
• Funded Amount: $1,800,000
• Total Project Cost: $3,600,000
  • Final Report

Summary of Applications

Technical Review Summary

Approval Summary

ND Rare Earth and Critical Element Resource Evaluation

LRc-95-A Application

Technical Review Summary 

FY21-95-235: ND Rare Earth and Critical Element Resource Evaluation 

• Sponsor: Microbeam Technologies, Inc.
• Objective: To focuses on the development of rare earth element and critical mineral (REE-CM) production from selected North Dakota coal seams and sediments.
• Funded Amount: $529,529
• Total Project Cost: $1,059,510
  • Final Report 

Summary of Applications

Technical Review Summary

Approval Summary

To Test, Confirm, and Initiate Commercial Design of a Post-Combustion 'Bolt-On' CO2 Capture System 

LRC-94-B Application

Technical Review Summary

Lignite-Derived Carbon Materials for Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

LRC-94-C Application

Technical Review Summary

Annual Lignite Energy Council Education Program

LRC-94-D Application

Technical Review Summary 

Electrostatic Filtration of Large Lubricant Reservoirs

LRC-94-E Application

Technical Review Summary    

FY21-94-230: Systematically Applied Research to Develop High Value Products from Coal 

• Sponsor: Semplastics EHC LLC and Affiliates
• Objective: Comprised of four different sub-projects that integrate coal and coal ash into plastics safe and strong building materials. The technological target is to provide new improved building materials out of lignite-based resources.
• Funded Amount: $250,000
• Total Project Cost: $2,733,130
  • Final Report 

FY21-94-231: Systematically Applied Research to Develop High Value Products from Coal

• Sponsor: Semplastics EHC LLC and Affiliates
• Objective: Comprised of four different sub-projects that integrate coal and coal ash into plastics safe and strong building materials. The technological target is to provide new improved building materials out of lignite-based resources.
• Funded Amount: $50,000
• Total Project Cost: $546,626
  • Final Report 

FY21-94-232: Lignite-Derived Carbon Materials for Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes

• Sponsor: Institute for Energy Studies/University of ND (UND)
• Objective: To develop and demonstrate an economic process for production of advanced composite anode materials for lithium-ion batteries using lignite-derived pitch and synthetic graphite as the main feedstock.
• Funded Amount: $75,000
• Total Project Cost: $667,465
  • Final Report

FY21-94-233: Electrostatic Filtration of Large Lubricant Reservoirs

• Sponsor: Institute for Energy Studies/University of ND (UND)
• Objective: Development of a small and affordable electrostatic oil cleaner system that will allow power plant equipment to operate with a lower risk of failure due to contamination.
• Funded Amount: $151,494
• Total Project Cost: $350,948
  • Final Report 

FY21-94-234: Annual Lignite Energy Council Education Program

• Sponsor: Lignite Energy Council (LEC) 
• Objective: To educate teachers, students, and members of the public in the region about career opportunities, energy production, economic benefits, and operations of the Lignite Industry. Of specific note is the new Lignite Learn (an E-Campus) which will continue moving forward with the development of a two-pronged website aimed at laying the foundation for an e-learning option for the Lignite Education Seminar. 
• Funded Amount: $200,000
• Total Project Cost: $412,000
  • Final Report

Summary of Applications

Technical Review Summary

Approval Summary

Project Tundra FEED

LRC-93-A Application

Technical Review Summary 

Naphtha and Tar Oil Overhead Refining Project

LRC-93-B Application

Technical Review Summary 

No Approved Projects

Summary of Applications

Technical Review Summary

Approval Summary

Laboratory-Scale Coal-Derived Graphene Process

LRC-92-A Application

Technical Review Summary

Drill Stratigraphic Test Well & Determine Feasibility of Central ND Geology to Safely and Permanently Store Carbon Dioxide

LRC-92-B Application

Technical Review Summary  

FY20-92-227: Laboratory-Scale Coal-Derived Graphene Process 

• Sponsor: Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)
• Objective: Develop a technological process for converting North Dakota (ND) lignite and other U.S. coals into high-value solid carbon products such as graphene for use in multiple applications.
• Funded Amount: $162500
• Total Project Cost: $931564
  • Final Report 

FY20-92-228: Drill Stratigraphic Test Well & Determine Feasibility of Central ND Geology to Safely and Permanently Store Carbon Dioxide

• Sponsor: Midwest AgEnergy Group
• Objective: To provide critical information about central North Dakota geology as required to demonstrate the capacity for long-term storage of carbon dioxide (CO₂).
• Funded Amount: $3,638,000
• Total Project Cost: $7,456,000
  • Final Report 

Summary of Applications

Technical Review Summary

Approval Summary

Annual Lignite Energy Council Education Program

LRC-91-A Application

Technical Review Summary

Preliminary Front End Engineering and Design (pre-FEED) Study for a Full-scale Carbon Dioxide Capture System at Coal Creek Station (CSS2)

LRC-91-B Application

Technical Review Summary 

Wastewater Recycling Using a Hygroscopic Cooling System

LRC-91-C Application

Technical Review Summary

PCOR Initiative to Accelerate CCUS Deployment

LRC-91-D Application

Technical Review Summary

FY20-91-223: Annual Lignite Energy Council Education Program 

• Sponsor: Lignite Energy Council (LEC)
• Objective: To educate teachers, students, and members of the general public about career opportunities, economic benefits, and operations of the lignite industry.
• Funded Amount: $100,000
• Total Project Cost: $207,800
  • Final Report 

FY20-91-224: Preliminary Front End Engineering and Design (pre-FEED) Study for a full-scale carbon dioxide capture system at Coal Creek Station (CCS2)

• Sponsor: Great River Energy
• Objective: This project provides an initial investigation of the potential for CCUS at Coal Creek through a pre-FEED study and includes investigation of the storage geology.
• Funded Amount: $4,239,000
• Total Project Cost: $8,478,000
  • Final Report 

FY20-91-225: Wastewater Recycling Using a Hygroscopic Cooling System

• Sponsor: Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)
• Objective: Evaluation of novel cooling system for power plants with a focus on water management.
• Funded Amount: $100,000
• Total Project Cost: $820,675
  • Final Report

FY20-91-226: PCOR Initiative to Accelerate CCUS Deployment

• Sponsor: Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)
• Objective: This project provides a continuation of the PCOR program to help address challenges and opportunities for commercial CCUS in the region.
• Funded Amount: $2,000,000
• Total Project Cost: $12,504,348
  • Final Report

Summary of Applications

Technical Review Summary

Approval Summary

Co-Production of Multiple High Value Solid Products from Lignite Coals

LRC-90-B Application

Technical Review Summary

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

LRC-90-C Application

Technical Review Summary

Mitigation of Alkali Promoted Ash Deposition and Emissions from Coal Combustion

LRC-90-D Application

Technical Review Summary

FY20-90-221: Rare Earth Element Extraction and Concentration at Pilot-Scale from ND Coal-Related Feedstocks 

• Sponsor: Institute for Energy Studies/University of ND (UND)
• Objective: The team has initiated Phase 3 with DOE and North Dakota, directed at demonstrating its novel technology for rare earth element recovery from North Dakota lignite coal feedstocks at the pilot scale.
• Funded Amount: $1,075,000
• Total Project Cost: $7,158,555
  • Final Report 

FY20-90-222: Mitigation of Alkali Promoted Ash Deposition and Emissions from Coal Combustion

• Sponsor: Barr Engineering Co.
• Objective: Evaluation of technology for prevention and removal of aerosols in lignite fired systems to improve operation and provide improvements for any future CCUS systems.
• Funded Amount: $400,000
• Total Project Cost: $4,999,412
  • Final Report