Opportunity Notice for Partners to Assist NETL in Adapting CCSI Tool Set | OPPORTUNITY NOTICE

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the main purpose of this NETL opportunity?

This opportunity notice seeks partners to help adapt and extend the Carbon Capture Simulation Initiative (CCSI) Toolset so it can better support the modeling, evaluation, and optimization of advanced carbon capture process concepts, especially hybrid systems that combine multiple capture technologies.

Who is issuing the opportunity notice?

The opportunity is issued by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).

What is the CCSI Toolset?

The CCSI Toolset is described as a suite of computational tools and multi-scale modeling techniques originally developed to speed up the design and commercialization of post-combustion carbon capture systems.

What problem in carbon capture research is NETL trying to address?

NETL highlights that much carbon capture research focuses on three main pathways (adsorption, absorption, and membranes), each with its own energy penalties and techno-economic tradeoffs. NETL suggests that the best practical solution may be a hybrid process that integrates multiple capture technologies to potentially reduce energy use and cost versus conventional designs.

What are the three main carbon capture technology pathways referenced in the notice?

The notice specifically references adsorption, absorption, and membranes as the three primary pathways that most work focuses on.

What does NETL mean by a "hybrid" carbon capture process?

In this context, a hybrid process is a combined system that integrates multiple capture technologies into one overall process (for example, blending adsorption with membranes, or absorption with another separation step) to improve overall performance.

Why are hybrid systems difficult to develop and evaluate?

NETL notes that hybrid systems require multiple rigorous sub-models to be integrated into a single modeling framework. To design and compare hybrid configurations sensibly, high-fidelity component models need to work together in one simulation environment so teams can run comparisons, sensitivity analyses, and optimization of the full system.

What kind of partner contributions does NETL appear to be seeking?

Based on the summary, NETL is recruiting external collaborators who can help strengthen, adapt, and extend the CCSI Toolset, particularly to enable integration of multiple component models into unified process simulations that support hybrid carbon capture design and evaluation.

What capabilities does NETL emphasize in this opportunity?

NETL emphasizes expertise in building rigorous process models and using advanced modeling to accelerate technology maturation, positioning the CCSI Toolset as the platform where integration and evaluation work for hybrid processes can be performed.

Is this opportunity limited only to carbon capture applications?

No. While carbon capture is the immediate application area, NETL also states the CCSI Toolset is broadly applicable beyond carbon capture and can be used for other process industries where integrated, optimized flowsheets are important.

What other industries or application areas are mentioned as relevant?

NETL lists chemicals production, petroleum refining, natural gas processing, and biofuel production as examples of other process industries where the toolset's modeling approaches could be applied.

What is the benefit of extending the CCSI Toolset beyond carbon capture?

NETL suggests that improving adaptability, reusability, or interoperability can help the toolset support a wider range of process modeling challenges and enable faster translation from research models to deployable process designs.

What type of opportunity is this described as administratively?

The listing describes it as a discretionary opportunity under an energy-related activity category, issued by NETL.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are listed as "unrestricted" in the summary provided, meaning the notice does not limit participation to a narrow applicant class in that summary record.

Where are the complete requirements and instructions located?

The summary references the full opportunity notice hosted on the NETL business solicitations page, which is identified as the source for complete requirements, expectations, and response instructions.

What are the key dates listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity was created on May 25, 2017, and the original closing date is listed as June 21, 2017.

What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?

The award ceiling is shown as 0 in the provided data summary, which typically indicates the funding amount is not specified in that summary record and may be detailed in the full opportunity notice.

How many awards are expected?

The expected awards field is left blank in the provided summary data, suggesting the summary record does not specify the number of awards and that details may be contained in the full text of the opportunity notice.

Does the summary provide definitive funding details?

No. The summary record shows an award ceiling of 0 and does not list expected awards, which is commonly a sign that definitive funding details are in the full opportunity notice rather than the abbreviated listing.

What is the overall goal NETL is trying to achieve with this collaboration?

Overall, NETL is recruiting collaborators to enhance a simulation and modeling ecosystem so complex hybrid carbon capture concepts can be built, tested, compared, and optimized in a unified framework, with improvements that can also benefit broader industrial process design and optimization needs.