For the past eight years, Southern Company’s research and development organization and the National Carbon Capture Center have hosted a group of U.S. and international graduate and doctoral students studying carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). The program – Research Experience in Carbon Sequestration, or RECS – is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and gives students an opportunity to see firsthand the front lines of CCS research.

Richard Esposito, Southern Company R&D consulting engineer, has partnered with RECS since its creation. “This program helps expose these students to technical experts as well as pilot- and demonstration-scale projects, like those underway at the National Carbon Capture Center, that are making an impact on the advancement and commercial viability of CCS technologies,” Esposito said.

During the week-long event, students gained insight into global CCS policies, the energy commodity landscape and more through presentations, discussions and field trips led by experts in their fields. Students also got an up-close look at how the National Carbon Capture Center is working to accelerate the commercialization of cost-effective carbon capture technologies.

“As a world-class energy company in the CCS research space, Southern Company has provided RECS with incredible access to field and test sites and dozens of CCS experts, including those at the National Carbon Capture Center,” said Pamela Tomski, RECS founder and director. “I am deeply grateful for their partnership and support.”

Located in Wilsonville, Alabama, the National Carbon Capture Center works with scientists and technology developers from government, industry and universities to advance emerging carbon capture technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil-based power generation.