Research at the Global CO2 Initiative supports the development of captured carbon product technologies — both technological and biological — from early stage R&D through the stages of demonstration and early commercial deployment.
The Global CO2 Initiative is cultivating existing and potential industry and research partners to further collaborate and expand R&D and deployment opportunities for carbon dioxide removal and utilization technologies.
Innovative Solutions
Public perception is an important component of the commercialization of these products. Without the trust, support, and buy-in of end users, CCU may not achieve the level of commercial success that is necessary to meet market- and climate-related goals.
Read more about Acceptability of Products Containing Captured CO2.
The following four projects are supported by the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering through the Blue Sky Initiatives program.
The cement industry contributes 5–8% of global CO2 emissions. This CO2 can also be repurposed and utilized in curing the cement to manufacture concrete and other construction materials with desirable mechanical properties.
Natural fibers as reinforcement of polymer composites gain attention due to their remarkable mechanical properties, low cost, carbon-neutral nature, and recyclability.
Economical utilization of captured CO2 becomes possible when it is electrochemically converted into nanoscale products that can be used as fuel, ultra-strong materials, and high-performance plastics.
In order to capture CO2 from atmosphere or industrial processes most effectively, we are developing new sorbents that increase the carbon-capture capacity of a moisture-stable sorbent relative to today’s best performer by 100%.
The CO2nsistent project builds on the previous project which developed guidelines for conducting TEA and LCA of carbon capture and utilization (CCU) projects. The aim is to further enhance guidance to ensure comparability and transparency across technologies in the CCU arena.
Looking for additional information? Take a look at the Global CO2 Initiative Google Scholar page, the Global CO2 Initiative YouTube site, or our companion website, AssessCCUS.
Featured Faculty
Dr. Mihaela Banu is a Research Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Dr. Alan Taub is a Professor of Materials Science & Engineering and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan.
Their research focuses on improving the performance of natural fiber composites for structural applications and how it will use nature’s incorporation of CO2 in plants. Learn about Dr. Banu and Dr. Taub.