North Haven, CT (December 2, 2021)– Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) welcomed U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and Commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) Katie Scharf Dykes for a company tour and for the DOE to announce ARPA-E funding under the REMEDY program (Reducing Emissions of Methane Every Day of the Year), including an award to Precision Combustion.
After the tour, Secretary Granholm held a press conference announcing $35 million in ARPA-E REMEDY awards, aimed at reducing methane emissions in the coal, oil and gas sectors. This included a $3.7 million award to PCI. She highlighted how the historic climate investments of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda will help lower energy costs; generate good-paying, union jobs; and drive down air pollution.
“Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that is more than 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide and we must adopt technologies to dramatically reduce these emissions,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “By creating new technologies, we are working to mitigate climate change and minimize the cost of methane abatement. The REMEDY program will help us support the Biden Administration’s mission to tackle climate change head-on, create good-paying jobs, and deliver cleaner, fresher air for American communities.”
REMEDY (Reducing Emissions of Methane Every Day of the Year) is a 3-year, $35 million ARPA-E research program to reduce methane emissions from three sources in the oil, gas, and coal value chain. The goal is to reverse the rate of accumulation of methane in the atmosphere, decrease atmospheric methane concentration, and thus ameliorate climate change. The target sources are:
– Exhaust from natural gas-fired lean-burn engines, used to drive compressors, generate electricity, and increasingly, repower ships;
– Flares required for safe operation of oil and gas facilities; and
– Coal mine ventilation air methane (VAM) exhausted from operating underground mines.
Projects funded under the program will support President Biden’s U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan, announced at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), which seeks to reduce methane emissions and promote American innovation and manufacturing of new technologies to achieve climate goals.
PCI’s REMEDY technology targets oxidation of ventilation air methane from coal and other mines, which is challenging due to its low concentration. PCI is focused upon developing an innovative modular system that promotes methane oxidation and manages thermal loads in a novel reactor design. Specifically, the system targets eliminating release of the ventilation air methane associated with mine operation and coal production, and combines materials, component and system development with computational thermal modeling to optimize performance. The technology can be adapted to eliminate methane in other industry settings.
Regarding the REMEDY award:
PCI Congressional Representative (CT-03) Rosa DeLauro commented, “Precision Combustion continues to show what talented small businesses are capable of when they receive the right support. As Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, I am proud to have helped secure this funding and am excited the Department of Energy has recognized Precision Combustion’s innovative proposal to eliminate the main source of coal mine methane. As we continue to fight the climate crisis, reducing methane pollution must remain a high priority. Investments in science like these are key to creating good-paying clean energy jobs and developing the technologies we need to combat global climate change.”
“This federal grant is another step toward an emission-free future and a cleaner and greener economy. These investments in greenhouse gas-reducing technologies tackle our climate crisis and create good paying clean energy jobs here in Connecticut. I am proud that PCI is receiving this federal grant—their commitment to developing cutting edge clean energy technology as well as their incredible team continue to be recognized,” said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (CT).
“Methane is a 25 times more potent greenhouse gas compared to carbon dioxide. Its impact on the climate is devastating, and so I’m glad the Department of Energy is investing in Precision Combustion’s technology to reduce the release of methane from coal production. This kind of innovation moves us toward a cleaner future,” said U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (CT).
The PCI tour also included multiple PCI products in development, including
- Two high efficiency fuel cell systems using both today’s conventional fuels and tomorrow’s carbon neutral fuels,
- Compact air cleaners for NASA environmental systems and for improved air quality in buildings,
- High efficiency CO2 capture collectors for both combustion exhaust and direct air capture, and
- Compact military generators and a new engine component to improve efficiency and emissions.
PCI’s President Kevin Burns remarked, “We’re honored to welcome Secretary Granholm, Governor Lamont, and Commissioner Dykes to Precision Combustion, and hope you have enjoyed seeing a little of what we do. There’s a lot going on, a lot of synergy among applications. We’re developing clean energy and environmental solutions for the future, including with DOE and others’ support. And we’re happy to be doing it here in Connecticut, which is a great place to build and grow a thriving technology business.
The DOE is driving a lot of America’s early stage R&D to tackle our energy and environmental challenges and help build America’s economic strength and high quality jobs of tomorrow, including at innovative and entrepreneurial small high tech businesses like ourselves. We look forward to this project.”
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont commented, “What I saw here today was a real R&D center, with many new technologies including generators to significantly reduce soldiers’ battery loads, technology to fight climate change, and fuel cells applicable for both trucks and other vehicles.” Speaking of the REMEDY program and other Federal investments, he added “What this means for our environmental future, for Connecticut, what this means to make America a leader around the world is just transformative.”
Precision Combustion, Inc. is a clean energy and environmental technology company developing new reactors and systems for energy and environmental sector applications.
For more information, contact:
Anthony Anderson
Director, Marketing and Business Development
Phone: 203-287-3700 ext. 290
Email: aanderson@precision-combustion.com
