North Dakota Hits Carbon Capture Milestone: 1 Million Metric Tons Stored
North Dakota is making headlines as the Great Plains Synfuels Plant, operated by Dakota Gasification Company, achieves a groundbreaking milestone in carbon capture technology. Located near Beulah, the facility has successfully sequestered 1 million metric tons of CO2 since launching its CO2 sequestration project in February 2024.
This achievement positions the project—now the largest geologic sequestration effort from a coal facility in the world—as a model for the future of sustainable energy. With a capacity to capture up to 2.25 million metric tons of CO2 annually, the Great Plains project reflects North Dakota’s commitment to balancing energy production with environmental stewardship.
“Achieving the 1-million-ton milestone demonstrates that the project is living up to its claim,” said Dale Johnson, senior vice president and plant manager at Dakota Gas. “Dakota Gas, Basin Electric, and our stakeholders can clearly see that the project is outperforming the expectations we had at the onset.”
CO2 captured from the plant is stored in the Broom Creek sandstone formation, a geological reservoir adjacent to the facility with an estimated storage capacity of over 10 billion metric tons. The project is exceeding initial performance expectations, with each well delivering better-than-projected results, solidifying its long-term economic and environmental impact.
This milestone not only demonstrates the viability of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology but also reinforces North Dakota’s role as a leader in energy innovation. For STAND, it’s another step in the state’s transformation story—one where cutting-edge technology meets bold leadership to drive progress in sustainability and economic growth. As global markets look to carbon management solutions, North Dakota is setting a standard, proving that energy and environmental goals can work hand in hand.
Dakota Gasification Company is a for-profit subsidiary of Basin Electric Power Cooperative, which owns and operates the Great Plains Synfuels Plant near Beulah, North Dakota. The Synfuels Plant is the only commercial-scale coal gasification facility in the U.S. that manufactures natural gas.
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Read the original news release and learn more about Basin Electric Power Cooperative