First carbon capture project in ND up and running

Red Trail Energy, LLC has become the first to launch carbon capture and storage at its ethanol facility located near Richardton, ND.

The RTE ethanol plant emits an average of 180,000 metric tons of CO2 annually from the fermentation process during ethanol production. With carbon capture the company is trapping 100% of their CO2 emissions from the fermentation process and is injecting 500 metric tons of CO2 per day. The CO2 is permanently stored one mile underground.

Red Trail CEO Gerald Bachmeier says the success establishes a path for other industries in the state to follow.

Energy Center CEO Charlie Gorecki says “The EERC has been researching and testing the geologic storage potential of North Dakota’s resources for decades. The location of Red Trail Energy’s ethanol facility always made it a perfect candidate for CCS.”

North Dakota’s Industrial Commission approved the project last fall.