Title page

Contents

Highlights 2

Letter 5

Background 8

Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage and Direct Air Capture Technologies 8

DOE Support for Research and Development of CCUS and DAC Technologies 10

DOE Obligated Almost $1.4 Billion to Support Carbon Capture Projects from Fiscal Years 2018 through 2023 12

DOE Offices Addressed Project Selection and Management Risks in Various Ways, but FECM Inconsistently Addressed Risks in Reviewed Carbon Capture Projects 16

DOE Offices Employed Varied Approaches to Address Risks in Reviewed Projects 16

FECM Inconsistently Adhered to Guidance Regarding Risk Reduction in Project Management and Selection 19

Conclusions 22

Recommendations for Executive Action 22

Agency Comments 23

Appendix I: Comments from the Department of Energy 26

Appendix II: GAO Contact and Staff Acknowledgments 28

Figure 1. Components of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage and Direct Air Capture 9

Figure 2. Roles of Department of Energy (DOE) Offices Across Technology Readiness Levels 11

Figure 3. Department of Energy (DOE) Carbon Capture Project Obligations, Fiscal Years 2018-2023 13

Figure 4. Department of Energy (DOE) Obligations and Number of Projects for Carbon Capture Projects, by Office and Project Type, Fiscal Years 2018-2023 15