Breakthrough carbon capture technology ready for field testing

We all know carbon capture and storage (CCS) is considered essential to lowering carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from industries such as steel, cement and chemicals. But what if there was a technology that could capture CO₂ more efficiently, and at a lower cost?

ExxonMobil’s been working with FuelCell Energy to develop just such a technology, which uses carbonate fuel cells to capture CO₂ from the exhaust of an industrial plant, preventing the CO₂ from being released into the atmosphere. Our research indicates it could capture more than 90% of CO₂ emissions.

We plan to demonstrate this breakthrough technology as part of a pilot project at our manufacturing site in Rotterdam, starting in 2026. 

CFC: Why it’s promising

Carbonate fuel cell technology has two main benefits: 

• It’s energy-efficient, because it’s based on electrochemical processes that are inherently more efficient than conventional, thermal-based CO₂ capture processes.
• It captures CO₂ while simultaneously generating low-carbon power, heat and hydrogen. These valuable co-products can be used within the industrial facility, or elsewhere, lowering the overall cost of carbon capture.

Also: the fuel cells are modular units, which let the system be scaled up or down depending on the size of the facility.

Out of the lab, into the real world

FuelCell Energy originally developed carbonate fuel cell technology for small-scale power generation using natural gas. We’ve been working together for several years on a next-generation design that would expand its application to capturing CO₂ at large-scale industrial sites.

Now, we’re ready to move the technology out of the lab and into the real world.

Our Rotterdam pilot will mark the first time carbonate fuel cell technology is used to capture CO₂ from a working industrial site. The captured CO₂ will be transported and permanently stored under the North Sea via the Porthos project.

Pending a successful pilot, this carbonate fuel cell technology could be used at our other manufacturing sites around the world. ExxonMobil and Fuel Cell Energy also could commercialize it to help other companies reduce their emissions.

In the meantime, FuelCell Energy will incorporate elements of the next-generation technology into its current commercial modules, which is expected to accelerate its delivery to market while the Rotterdam demonstration is underway.

ExxonMobil deploys multiple technologies to offer integrated carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) solutions to customers, and the carbonate fuel cell has the potential to be part of this technology toolkit. It could potentially offer economical decarbonization solutions for customers from a wide range of industries, supporting society’s goal of a net-zero future.

Scroll down to find out how this breakthrough technology works.