US’ largest biogenic ethanol carbon capture deal signed, CO₂-by-rail initiative kicks off

Frontier Infrastructure Holdings (Frontier) and Carbonfuture have announced a new partnership to create and market carbon-removal credits from CO₂ produced by ethanol plants across the US’ Mountain West and Texas. Under the agreement, Frontier will handle the physical CO₂ while Carbonfuture will help sell the resulting credits. According to reports, this deal now represents the largest ethanol-based bioenergy carbon capture and sequestration (BECCS) carbon dioxide removal (CDR) deal ever signed. Under the deal, 750,000 carbon credits will be made available from “Project Spirit,” which is Frontier’s ethanol BECCS initiative. These credits will be made available for purchase by corporate and institutional buyers via Carbonfuture once active. The idea is that CO₂ will be absorbed from corn. This corn is then harvested and fermented to make ethanol, a process that releases relatively pure CO₂. Typically, this CO₂ is released back into the atmosphere, but under Project Spirit, it is captured at source. The gas is then compressed and liquefied ready for transport in special railcars to Wyoming. Carbon storage from corn It is then injected underground in deep geological storage vessels. The process will be actively monitored, and credits are issued for sale for the net quantity permanently removed. “The removal will be certified under Puro.earth’s Geologically Stored Carbon (GSC) Methodology, with monitoring, reporting, and verification provided by Mangrove Systems,” Frontier explains in its press release. Ethanol fermentation, it turns out, is attractive for carbon capture because it produces an unusually concentrated CO₂ stream (around 99% in some systems). So it generally requires less complicated separation than capturing dilute CO₂ from a power-station exhaust. It is also considered “biogenic,” meaning the CO₂ is removed from the atmosphere by plants rather than “cleaning up” extra carbon released from burning things like fossil fuels. “This partnership agreement marks an important step forward for our CO₂-by-rail initiative and for the ethanol producers we serve,” said Steven Lowenthal, Co-CEO of Frontier, in a press release. “Carbonfuture has built a trusted platform for durable carbon removal, and partnering with them gives our customers a practical, near-term pathway to achieving their net zero goals through a trustworthy infrastructure,” he added. Not entirely carbon negative “Buyers are looking for durable carbon removal they can trust, at scale,” said Julie Mansfield, Head of Global Buyer Growth, Carbonfuture. “By bringing Frontier’s ethanol BECCS supply to market, this partnership expands access to verifiable, durable removals while reinforcing the rigorous standards needed to scale the sector,” he added. It is important to note that this is not yet a completed removal project, nor does the announcement say that all 750,000 credits have already been purchased. According to reports, the first CO₂ removals are expected to begin sometime in late 2027. It is also important to note that the process will not be entirely net-negative in terms of CO₂ emissions. Growing the corn in the first place requires the use of fertilizers, diesel-powered farming machinery, and energy to process and ferment the corn. Transportation via rail and other parasitic electrical costs are involved for processing the CO₂ and injection underground are also involved. That all said, this will prove attractive to carbon credit purchasers when it finally does go live later next year. Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Christopher graduated from Cardiff University in 2004 with a Masters Degree in Geology. Since then, he has worked exclusively within the Built Environment, Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental Consultancy industries. He is a qualified and accredited Energy Consultant, Green Deal Assessor and Practitioner member of IEMA. Chris’s main interests range from Science and Engineering, Military and Ancient History to Politics and Philosophy.