8 Rivers Allam Cycle Emissions Capture
The Allam-Fetvedt Cycle is an innovative power generation technology developed by 8 Rivers Capital. It offers a novel approach to producing electricity from carbon-based fuels, such as coal, petcoke, natural gas, or biomass, with reduced emissions. 8 Rivers has licensed the natural gas version of the cycle exclusively to NET Power for use, while retaining access to solid fuel variants.
What is the Allam-Fetvedt Cycle?
The Allam–Fetvedt Cycle is an innovative power generation process that produces electricity from fossil fuels while inherently capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂). Unlike conventional power plants that burn fuel in air and emit CO₂ into the atmosphere, this cycle burns fuel with pure oxygen, creating a high-pressure, high-temperature stream of CO₂ that drives a turbine to generate power.
The CO₂ is then cooled, compressed, and recycled within the system, with any surplus captured for permanent storage or industrial use. The only by-products of the cycle are water and a pure stream of CO₂ suitable for transport via pipeline. This closed-loop design effectively reduces atmospheric emissions from the energy generation process, delivering near-zero-emission power generation.
Why this technology matters
Traditional carbon capture systems are often added onto existing plants, making them, at times, complex and costly to operate. The Allam–Fetvedt Cycle reimagines this approach by building carbon capture directly into the power generation process.
This integration reduces costs, improves overall efficiency, and reduces emissions from the energy generation process.
Where is it being used?
A demonstration plant using the Allam–Fetvedt Cycle and fuelled by natural gas was built in La Porte, Texas, to prove the system’s performance and reliability. This plant is owned and operated by NET Power, but this facility validated the core technology of the cycle.
The technology’s developer, 8 Rivers, continues to advance the process for use with solid fuels such as coal, petcoke, and biomass, expanding its potential applications. In partnership with Siemens Energy, 8 Rivers is also developing a zero-emissions, supercritical CO2, turbine, marking another step toward fully commercial, low-emission power generation.
How does this fit with LETA’s mission?
LETA is committed to supporting technologies that can reduce emissions from industries that are challenging to decarbonize. The Allam-Fetvedt Cycle represents a potential approach to generating electricity with integrated emissions capture. By exploring and supporting such innovations, LETA aims to help industries transition to lower emissions while maintaining energy reliability and affordability.
What’s next?
8 Rivers is currently undertaking several feasibility and pre-FEED studies to identify the most suitable location for the first-of-a-kind commercial project. As the technology continues to mature, the Allam–Fetvedt Cycle could play a pivotal role in reducing emissions from power generation and other hard-to-abate sectors.