arbor’s ‘vegetarian rocket engine’ power plant is actually an omnivore

Arbor Energy's Evolving Approach to Carbon Dioxide Removal

Initially, two years ago, engineers formerly with SpaceX leveraged rocket technology to create a power plant designed for atmospheric carbon dioxide removal. This innovative system utilized plant waste as fuel, effectively functioning as a “vegetarian rocket engine” for electricity generation.

Securing Funding and Expanding Fuel Sources

This week, Arbor Energy announced a $55 million Series A funding round, spearheaded by Lowercarbon Capital and Voyager Ventures. This investment follows a strategic shift in the company’s operational focus.

Rather than exclusively relying on biomass, the power plant will now incorporate natural gas as a supplementary fuel source. This adaptation occurred this year due to the rapidly increasing electricity demands originating from data centers.

Powering AI and Addressing Fuel Availability

The original design was demonstrably capable of powering artificial intelligence servers. However, its scalability was constrained by the limited availability of wood and agricultural waste. Natural gas offers a more readily accessible alternative.

Oxy-Combustion and Carbon Capture Technology

Arbor Energy remains committed to capturing CO₂ produced by the power plant. The system employs oxy-combustion, a process that converts hydrocarbons into syngas, subsequently burning it in a pure oxygen environment.

This process yields CO₂ that requires minimal preparation for sequestration, making carbon capture more efficient.

Economic Incentives for Carbon Sequestration

According to Arbor spokesperson Patrick Mahoney, tax credits will make storing the captured CO₂ more economically viable than releasing it into the atmosphere. The company intends to exclusively license its technology to entities committed to utilizing or sequestering the captured carbon.

Addressing Methane Leakage Concerns

While capturing CO₂ is crucial, the use of natural gas introduces another climate consideration. Natural gas primarily consists of methane, a potent greenhouse gas with a significantly higher warming potential than carbon dioxide – 84 times greater over a 20-year period.

Consequently, even minor leaks within the natural gas supply chain can substantially impact the overall climate footprint of a natural gas-fired power plant.

Leakage Rates and Carbon Footprint Equivalence

Recent research indicates that leakage rates as low as 0.2% could result in a gas-fired power plant having a comparable carbon footprint to a coal plant. U.S. government estimates place leakage rates around 1%, while satellite data suggests rates of approximately 1.6% nationwide.

Mitigation Strategies and Climate Impact Goals

Arbor Energy states it is collaborating with natural gas suppliers certified for low leakage rates. The company aims to achieve a climate impact of less than 100 grams (roughly a quarter of a pound) of carbon equivalent per kilowatt of electricity generated.

Ongoing Biomass Plant Construction and Carbon Removal Commitments

The startup has confirmed it is still constructing a biomass-fueled power plant in Louisiana. This project is partially funded by a $41 million agreement with Frontier, an advanced market commitment supported by Stripe, Google, and other organizations.

Under this agreement, Arbor is obligated to remove 116,000 tons of carbon dioxide by the year 2030.