Coastal Bend LNG and Solvanic Advance Carbon Capture with FEED Study on Electrochemically Mediated Amine Regeneration Technology
Coastal Bend LNG, the developer of a large-scale multi-train natural gas liquefaction and export facility strategically located along the Texas Gulf Coast, announced today the commencement of a front-end engineering and design (FEED) study in partnership with Solvanic. The study will focus on deploying electrochemically mediated amine regeneration (EMAR) carbon capture technology at the Coastal Bend LNG facility, with the ultimate goal of significantly reducing the project’s carbon footprint and supporting the transition toward lower-carbon liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
This collaboration represents a critical step forward in aligning LNG production with the global energy industry’s push for decarbonization. LNG has long been considered a “bridge fuel,” helping replace coal in global power generation, but the industry faces mounting pressure to address carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from both upstream gas processing and downstream power generation. By adopting next-generation carbon capture technologies, Coastal Bend LNG aims to demonstrate that LNG exports can remain competitive while simultaneously addressing climate challenges.
Groundbreaking Technology with MIT Origins
The FEED study will evaluate Solvanic’s EMAR technology, which offers a novel alternative to conventional thermal amine regeneration systems. Traditionally, amines are used to capture CO₂ from gas streams, and the CO₂ is then released through high-temperature steam in a process that is energy-intensive and costly. Solvanic’s approach, however, utilizes electrochemical reactions to regenerate amines and release CO₂ using electricity rather than steam.
The technology was first developed by Professor T. Alan Hatton’s research group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Department of Chemical Engineering. For more than a decade, MIT researchers have refined the concept, improving its energy efficiency, scalability, and stability. Recent breakthroughs by Dr. Michael Massen-Hane and Dr. Michael Nitzsche, both of whom played leading roles in advancing the technology, have made commercial deployment more feasible. Recognizing its potential to deliver significant emissions reductions across industries, Drs. Massen-Hane and Nitzsche went on to co-found Solvanic, a company dedicated to scaling the technology and maximizing its climate impact.
Unlike traditional thermal systems, EMAR reduces the energy required for carbon capture, lowers capital costs, and increases flexibility for industrial operators. These advantages make the technology particularly attractive for facilities like LNG export terminals, where energy efficiency and reliability are critical for competitiveness in the global marketplace.
Coastal Bend LNG’s Commitment to Low-Carbon LNG
For Coastal Bend LNG, this initiative is part of a broader strategy to deliver low-carbon intensity LNG that meets the growing demands of international buyers and aligns with evolving climate policies worldwide. Global LNG customers, particularly in Europe and Asia, are increasingly prioritizing cleaner supply chains and seeking suppliers who can demonstrate tangible emissions reductions.
Nick Flores, Chief Executive Officer of Coastal Bend LNG, emphasized the importance of carbon capture in achieving the company’s climate goals:
“To deliver on our ambitious low carbon intensity LNG goals, we need to capture carbon dioxide emissions from both our natural gas pretreatment and cogeneration facilities,” said Flores. “For post-combustion capture on our onsite cogeneration facilities, we need a step change in carbon capture efficiency. We’re highly encouraged by Solvanic’s preliminary techno-economics and are keen to accelerate their technology readiness with this FEED study.”
By addressing both pre-combustion emissions from natural gas pretreatment and post-combustion emissions from cogeneration, Coastal Bend LNG aims to develop a comprehensive emissions management strategy. This dual focus not only enhances the environmental profile of the facility but also sets a precedent for the wider LNG industry.
Solvanic’s Perspective on Scaling EMAR Technology
For Solvanic, this partnership is an opportunity to demonstrate the scalability and industrial readiness of its EMAR solution. According to Dr. Michael Nitzsche, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Solvanic:
“We have demonstrated our EMAR solution to Technology Readiness Level 4 with low energetics, high stability, and modular scalability across emission sources. This FEED study accelerates our techno-economic analyses for gas processing and post-combustion carbon capture with the full engineering support of Coastal Bend LNG and their contractors.”
Achieving Technology Readiness Level 4 (TRL-4) means the technology has been validated in a laboratory environment. The FEED study represents the next major step toward proving its effectiveness in an industrial setting, a milestone that is essential for eventual commercial deployment.
Dr. Massen-Hane, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Solvanic, added:
“We are leveraging over a decade of electrochemical carbon capture research and development at MIT via this option agreement. We appreciate Coastal Bend LNG’s confidence in the technology to meet their industrial decarbonization objectives.”
Broader Implications for the LNG and Energy Sectors
The Coastal Bend LNG–Solvanic partnership underscores a broader trend within the energy sector: the integration of advanced carbon capture technologies to maintain competitiveness in a decarbonizing world. LNG exporters face mounting scrutiny from regulators, investors, and customers, all of whom increasingly view carbon intensity as a key differentiator. Projects that can demonstrate credible emissions reductions are better positioned to secure long-term contracts, particularly in regions with stringent emissions policies.
Moreover, the EMAR technology’s reliance on electricity rather than steam is particularly timely. As more industrial facilities gain access to renewable electricity sources, the potential exists for near-zero-carbon carbon capture, further reducing lifecycle emissions. This could open the door for LNG projects like Coastal Bend’s to position themselves as leaders in the emerging market for carbon-neutral LNG.
The partnership also highlights the importance of academia-industry collaboration. Decades of research at MIT, combined with the entrepreneurial drive of Solvanic’s founders and the industrial expertise of Coastal Bend LNG, illustrate how breakthroughs in academic laboratories can evolve into transformative commercial solutions when properly supported.
