New Jersey Natural Gas Announces Installation of State’s First CarbinX Carbon Capture Units

Rhea-AI Summary

New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), a subsidiary of New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR), has installed two CarbinX carbon-capture units at its Wall, NJ headquarters, marking the first such installations in the state. Developed by CleanO2, the CarbinX technology captures carbon emissions from HVAC systems and converts them into pearl ash, which has various commercial applications. The units improve the efficiency of the facility’s water heater, reducing emissions and energy costs. NJNG aims to use data from this project to inform customers and policymakers about the benefits of carbon-capture technology. This initiative is part of NJNG's broader strategy to support New Jersey's climate goals and enhance energy efficiency.

Positive

• Installed first CarbinX carbon-capture units in New Jersey.
• Improves water heater efficiency, reducing emissions and energy costs.
• Potential to inform customers and policymakers on carbon-capture benefits.
• Achieved $59 million investment in energy-efficiency programs in fiscal 2023.
• Collaborated with prestigious academic and industry research organizations.
• Named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek for five consecutive years.

Negative

• Initial installation may not represent scalable or long-term feasibility without more data.
• Dependence on third-party monitoring and evaluation for understanding real-world benefits.
• No immediate financial or earnings impact reported from the technology installation.

Insights

Environmental Analyst

Carbon-capture technology like the CarbinX system implemented by New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) is a significant step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon capture aims to trap carbon dioxide (CO2) that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. The captured CO2 is converted into a nontoxic solid, pearl ash, which can be repurposed for various commercial products. This approach not only aids in emission reduction but also contributes to the circular economy by creating useful by-products.

This installation also aligns with New Jersey's climate objectives, providing a practical solution for existing infrastructure. Pearl ash production could foster new business opportunities, enhancing the economic viability of such technologies.

However, continuous monitoring and evaluation are essential to fully understand the technology's real-world benefits. The partnership with third-party evaluators is crucial, ensuring objectivity and transparency in data collection. The learnings from this project will be invaluable for future deployments.

Energy Market Analyst

From an energy efficiency perspective, the CarbinX systems present a cost-saving opportunity. By capturing waste heat and converting it into heated water, the technology minimizes the energy required for heating purposes. This leads to lower utility bills and reduced operational costs for businesses, making it a financially attractive option.

Moreover, the technology fits seamlessly into existing HVAC systems, which means businesses can adopt it without extensive retrofitting expenses. This aspect makes it easier for companies to comply with energy-efficiency programs and improve their environmental footprint without significant initial investments.

Yet, the scalability of this technology remains to be seen. While it proves effective in a controlled environment, its performance in diverse, real-world settings needs thorough assessment. The project’s results will determine whether broader implementation is feasible and economically worthwhile.

Innovative Technology Provides a Flexible Solution to Reduce Emissions

WALL, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Building on its commitment to develop and deploy innovative approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), the principal subsidiary of New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR), announced it has installed and is now operating two CarbinX™ carbon-capture systems at its Wall, N.J. headquarters. These units are the first of their kind in operation in New Jersey.

Each CarbinX unit is about the size of two residential refrigerators and connects to NJNG’s HVAC system, where it captures carbon emissions from the building that otherwise would be emitted as flue exhaust. The units also improve the overall efficiency of the facility’s water heater by converting waste heat to heated water – thus, decreasing water heater usage, reducing emissions and lowering energy costs.

“Innovation is critical to achieving our climate and emissions reduction goals in a way that is affordable, reliable and achievable,” said Patrick Migliaccio, senior vice president and chief operating officer at New Jersey Natural Gas. “The carbon capture units installed at our Wall headquarters are part of NJNG’s broader decarbonization strategy to reduce emissions from our operations and support New Jersey’s climate objectives in a way that is easy to adopt.”

Developed by Canada-based CleanO2, CarbinX is a breakthrough technology that converts carbon emissions into a nontoxic solid called pearl ash. Pearl ash can be repurposed for different applications, including commercial products such as soaps and detergents and durable building materials.

Additionally, NJNG is engaging with a third party to perform monitoring, data collection and an in-depth evaluation to fully understand the systems’ real-world benefits. This information will enable NJNG to inform customers and state policymakers about the potential of this technology to increase efficiency and reduce emissions.

“Distributed carbon capture is about more than just reducing emissions; it is also about maximizing the efficiency of the energy we use,” Migliaccio added. “As a flue gas economizer, these carbon-capture units can help businesses use less energy and take advantage of benefits offered under the state’s energy-efficiency programs. The installation of units like these is another way for businesses to help lower their carbon footprint. We look forward to learning from this project and identifying future opportunities.”

Distributed carbon-capture technology, like CarbinX, is designed to provide a practical solution for natural gas customers to manage and reduce their energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions. These components can be installed in existing buildings without disrupting HVAC systems.

“We are excited to expand CarbinX into New Jersey with New Jersey Natural Gas,” said Jaeson Cardiff, founder and CEO of CleanO2. “Our technology provides commercial businesses a practical approach to building decarbonization in a way that does not require major alterations to how they use energy. We are hopeful this installation at NJNG will be significant proof of concept for our units; and we’re eager to see how this two-unit installation can educate us on how to further deploy our technology more broadly.”

NJNG’s carbon-capture project is part of NJR’s broader decarbonization vision and commitment to building a cleaner energy future that prioritizes sustainability and reliability. Highlights of the company’s progress include:

• Achieved the highest single-year investment of $59 million (fiscal 2023) in NJNG’s energy-efficiency programs – cutting carbon emissions by helping customers reduce their energy consumption.
• Advanced cutting-edge, lower-carbon energy solutions that include carbon-capture technology and high-efficiency natural gas heat pumps in NJR’s facilities.
• Collaborated with leading academic and industry research organizations to support our emissions reduction and innovation efforts, including:
  • GTI Energy’s Emerging Technology and Net Zero Infrastructure Programs
  • Stanford University’s Natural Gas Initiative at its Doerr School of Sustainability and Precourt Institute of Energy
  • Princeton University’s Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment
  • Our Nation’s Energy Future (ONE Future)
• Named one of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek for the fifth consecutive year – one of only 156 companies nationwide to be recognized annually since 2020.
• Provided approximately 4,000 hours of volunteer service – nearly double the amount of the previous year, including projects dedicated to ecosystem and natural resource enhancements as part of NJR’s commitment to sustainability.

About New Jersey Resources

New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) is a Fortune 1000 company that, through its subsidiaries, provides safe and reliable natural gas and cleaner energy services, including transportation, distribution, asset management and home services. NJR is composed of five primary businesses:

• New Jersey Natural Gas, NJR’s principal subsidiary, operates and maintains natural gas transportation and distribution infrastructure to serve approximately 582,000 customers in New Jersey’s Monmouth, Ocean and parts of Morris, Middlesex, Sussex and Burlington counties.
• Clean Energy Ventures invests in, owns and operates solar projects with a total capacity of approximately 474 megawatts, providing residential and commercial customers with low-carbon solutions.
• Energy Services manages a diversified portfolio of natural gas transportation and storage assets and provides physical natural gas services and customized energy solutions to its customers across North America.
• Storage and Transportation serves customers from local distributors and producers to electric generators and wholesale marketers through its ownership of Leaf River Energy Center and the Adelphia Gateway Pipeline, as well as our 50% equity ownership in the Steckman Ridge natural gas storage facility.
• Home Services provides service contracts as well as heating, central air conditioning, water heaters, standby generators, solar and other indoor and outdoor comfort products to residential homes throughout New Jersey.

NJR and its over 1,300 employees are committed to helping customers save energy and money by promoting conservation and encouraging efficiency through Conserve to Preserve® and initiatives such as SAVEGREEN™ and The Sunlight Advantage®.

For more information about NJR visit www.njresources.com.
Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @NJNaturalGas.
“Like” us on facebook.com/NewJerseyNaturalGas.

About CleanO2

CleanO2 is not just another environmentally friendly soap company. They are working to solve climate change, one soap bar at a time. Founders — Jaeson Cardiff, Kathi Fischer and Scott Forgrave — invented a revolutionary device, CarbinX™, that captures carbon dioxide emissions from building heating systems and turns it into non-toxic pearl ash (potassium carbonate). CleanO2 is the first company to turn carbon dioxide emissions into natural soap. They started in Calgary, Alberta and have since expanded to deploy CarbinX units across Canada, the United States and Japan.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240514462716/en/

Media:

Mike Kinney

732-938-1031

mkinney@njresources.com

Investors:

Adam Prior

732-938-1145

aprior@njresources.com

Source: New Jersey Natural Gas

FAQ

What technology did NJR use for carbon capture?

NJNG used CarbinX carbon-capture units developed by CleanO2.

Where did NJNG install the carbon-capture systems?

NJNG installed the systems at its Wall, NJ headquarters.

What is the primary benefit of the CarbinX units?

The units capture carbon emissions and convert them into pearl ash, improving water heater efficiency and reducing emissions and energy costs.

Why is NJNG's installation of CarbinX units significant?

It marks the first operational CarbinX carbon-capture systems in New Jersey and supports the state’s climate goals.

How much did NJNG invest in energy-efficiency programs in fiscal 2023?

NJNG invested $59 million in energy-efficiency programs.

What is the stock symbol for New Jersey Resources?

The stock symbol for New Jersey Resources is NJR.