To take advantage of the 45Q tax credit, an ethanol client sought to capture and store carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from their dry-mill ethanol plant. Trihydro was selected to lead the Class VI carbon sequestration project due to our expertise in shallow subsurface monitoring and hydrology.
To establish a robust conceptual model of the natural system and provide a valuable reference point for future comparisons, Trihydro installed ten shallow subsurface monitoring stations to collect baseline data, including CO2 efflux, soil gas, passive seismic, satellite imagery of vegetation, and groundwater. A telemetry system obtains real-time continuous monitoring data from each station.
By collecting baseline data, Trihydro can mitigate the risk of "false positives" associated with seasonal water quality variations. This dataset is essential for understanding natural variability and could be vital in addressing future concerns or complaints. Additionally, investing in baseline data can prevent costly investigations and potential interruptions to 45Q payments.
In March 2023, Trihydro, in collaboration with partners, submitted a Class VI well permit application to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7. Trihydro's guidance on designing a shallow subsurface monitoring system, selecting appropriate analytes, and interpreting results has strengthened the Class VI permit application and provided a comprehensive pre-injection dataset. Trihydro continues to perform baseline testing and monitoring and will support the industrial client through the injection and post-injection phases.