Arbor’s ‘Vegetarian’ Rocket Engine Is Actually an Omnivore
▼ Summary
– Arbor Energy developed a carbon capture power plant using rocket technology that originally burned biomass but now also uses natural gas.
– The shift to natural gas was driven by increased electricity demand from data centers and the wider availability of natural gas compared to biomass.
– The plant uses oxy-combustion to produce CO2 that is easily captured for sequestration, making storage cheaper than atmospheric release due to tax credits.
– Burning natural gas poses climate risks due to methane leaks, which can significantly increase the carbon footprint if leakage rates exceed 0.2%.
– Arbor is building a biomass power plant in Louisiana with a commitment to remove 116,000 tons of CO2 by 2030 and is working with low-leakage gas providers to minimize emissions.
The innovative power generation technology developed by Arbor Energy, originally designed as a “vegetarian rocket engine” running on plant waste, has evolved into a more versatile system capable of consuming multiple fuel sources. This strategic pivot allows the company to address surging electricity demands from data centers while maintaining its carbon capture capabilities. Initially conceived by former SpaceX engineers, the technology now accommodates natural gas alongside biomass, significantly expanding its potential deployment locations beyond areas with abundant wood and agricultural waste.
Arbor recently secured $55 million in Series A funding from prominent investors Lowercarbon Capital and Voyager Ventures, signaling strong confidence in its adapted approach. The company’s power plants utilize oxy-combustion technology, which processes hydrocarbons into syngas before combustion in pure oxygen environments. This method produces carbon dioxide that requires minimal processing before sequestration, making carbon capture more economically viable.
According to company spokesperson Patrick Mahoney, carbon sequestration actually becomes more cost-effective than atmospheric release due to available tax credits. Arbor maintains a firm policy of only licensing its technology to operations committed to carbon capture and storage, ensuring environmental responsibility remains central to its business model.
However, the inclusion of natural gas introduces important climate considerations beyond carbon dioxide emissions. Methane, the primary component of natural gas, possesses dramatically higher global warming potential than CO₂, approximately 84 times more potent over a 20-year period. Even minimal leakage rates throughout the supply chain can significantly undermine the climate benefits of gas-fired power generation. Research indicates that leakage rates as low as 0.2% could make natural gas plants environmentally comparable to coal facilities, while current estimates place actual U.S. leakage rates between 1-1.6%.
Arbor addresses this challenge by partnering exclusively with natural gas suppliers certified for low leakage rates. The company has established an ambitious target of keeping the carbon footprint below 100 grams per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated. Meanwhile, Arbor continues developing its biomass-powered facility in Louisiana, supported by a $41 million agreement with Frontier, an advanced market commitment backed by Stripe, Google, and other technology leaders. This project requires the removal of 116,000 tons of carbon dioxide by 2030, demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to negative emissions technologies alongside its expanded fuel capabilities.
(Source: TechCrunch)
