Virginia Tech is spearheading a pioneering project that could play a major role in combating climate change and reducing industrial carbon emissions in the region. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management has selected Virginia Tech to lead a feasibility study for a regional carbon dioxide (CO2) storage complex in the Roanoke Valley, a project dubbed Project CARDINAL. This effort promises to prevent an estimated 50 million metric tons of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere over the next 30 years—an impactful step toward mitigating climate change.
A Collaborative Effort with Major Impact
The research team, led by Ryan M. Pollyea, associate professor of geosciences at Virginia Tech, is receiving significant support to advance this important work. The project will be funded through a $9 million grant from the Department of Energy’s CarbonSAFE program, along with an additional $2.6 million from Roanoke Cement Company LLC in Botetourt County. The collaboration also involves several key partners, including Southern States Energy Board, Advanced Resources International, Crescent Resource Innovation, and Top Rock Geoscience.
Pollyea, who is also the director of the newly established Carbon CoLab at Virginia Tech, has spent years researching carbon capture and storage (CCS). He emphasized the significance of this study, noting that it represents the culmination of years of academic research turning into tangible, real-world solutions. “This feasibility study is the first step in moving us toward a place where industrial carbon dioxide emissions are prevented from entering the atmosphere,” said Pollyea.
The Vision Behind Project CARDINAL
At the heart of Project CARDINAL is geologic carbon sequestration, a technology that separates CO2 from emissions streams at power, cement, and chemical plants, and stores the captured CO2 deep underground within secure geological formations. The approach has been the focus of Pollyea’s research since 2007, and with Project CARDINAL, Virginia Tech aims to test this technology in the region’s unique geological conditions.
Kevin Pitts, dean of the College of Science at Virginia Tech, called the project a “win-win” for both the local community and future generations. He highlighted how the project exemplifies Virginia Tech’s commitment to advancing both scientific innovation and environmental sustainability. “This project exemplifies the value that Virginia Tech brings to western Virginia and the commonwealth. With this effort, Virginia Tech will demonstrate scientific expertise that is renowned globally and at the same time help make the work of significant industrial operations in our region environmentally sustainable,” Pitts said.
Regional Collaboration, Global Impact
Project CARDINAL will take place at the Roanoke Cement Plant in Botetourt County, Virginia, where Virginia Tech and Roanoke Cement Company will collaborate on testing the feasibility of storing CO2 in deep geological formations beneath the plant. The project will explore the possibility of permanently storing up to 1.7 million metric tons of CO2 annually, a critical step toward scaling up the technology for broader application in the region and beyond. If successful, this could have an enormous impact—equivalent to removing more than 360,000 passenger cars from the road each year.
Chris Bayne, director of decarbonization and energy at Titan America, the parent company of Roanoke Cement, expressed enthusiasm for the project’s potential. “Virginia Tech is pioneering carbon storage research in the complex geology of Appalachia,” Bayne said. “Project CARDINAL will make important contributions to the science and engineering of geologic carbon storage throughout the eastern United States, and we are thrilled to be part of, and support, this important research.”
The Science of Geologic Carbon Storage
The core of geologic carbon sequestration lies in storing CO2 in natural, underground rock formations, similar to how oil and gas are stored deep below the earth’s surface. Pollyea explained that these geologic systems are naturally effective at storing fluids, including CO2, over long periods of time. “This is the same process responsible for natural accumulations of oil, gas, and even carbon dioxide in deep geologic formations,” he said.
The long-term goal of Project CARDINAL is to demonstrate the viability of using these deep formations to permanently store large volumes of CO2, addressing one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.
Real-World Applications and Opportunities
This project isn’t just about solving a global climate challenge—it also presents exciting opportunities for local economic development. As Pollyea pointed out, Project CARDINAL offers Virginia Tech students the chance to engage in hands-on, real-world research experiences, while also deepening knowledge of local geology and contributing to the scientific understanding of carbon storage technology.
“If the science proves out, we may open new doors to economic development in Southwest Virginia,” Pollyea said. “What a great opportunity to see the ideas we’ve been testing for years have a chance at becoming reality.”
Looking Ahead
As Virginia Tech leads the way in geologic carbon sequestration research, Project CARDINAL will not only advance carbon capture technology but also set the stage for future innovations in decarbonization and sustainability. This is a critical step in developing long-term solutions that can reduce carbon emissions on a global scale—while also fostering new partnerships and opportunities for economic growth in Southwest Virginia.
Stay tuned as we follow the progress of Project CARDINAL and the groundbreaking work being done by Virginia Tech and its partners to tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time: climate change.