Frontier Carbon Solutions, a leader in carbon capture and storage (CCS), announced the launch of its Sweetwater Carbon Storage Hub (SCS Hub).
This project aims to significantly reduce industrial carbon emissions in the Midwest and Mountain West regions by permanently storing over 400,000 metric tons of captured CO2 annually.
“We chose Wyoming because of the huge industrial presence in the state. Whether it’s traditional power gas processing, mining, ammonia fertilizer – there’s a lot going on,” Steven Lowenthal, Frontier‘s Co-CEO, told the Carbon Herald. “Wyoming exists at the crux of a lot of different major infrastructure, such as highways and major railways. And the idea for us is to build the storage and be there to service local industry.”
The SCS Hub stands out for its innovative approach, which leverages existing Union Pacific rail infrastructure to transport liquefied CO2 emissions in insulated railcars to Wyoming for permanent geological storage.
This not only utilizes existing resources but also generates high-quality carbon removal credits for the voluntary carbon market (VCM).
The SCS Hub will collaborate with emission facilities to utilize state-of-the-art liquefaction technology for capturing high-purity CO2 emissions without chemical solvents. The captured CO2 will be securely stored in Wyoming’s Nugget Formation, a geological reservoir with a projected 99% CO2 retention rate over 1,000 years, according to the IPCC.
“We’ve enlisted a lot of great partners, EcoEngineers is one of them,” Lowenthal added. “They’ve been instrumental in thinking through the life-cycle analysis implications of the project, including shipping carbon by rail, and in creating a measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) plan.”
EcoEngineers, a carbon management consultancy, conducted a preliminary analysis of the project’s efficiency, estimating up to 85% CDR efficiency, allowing for significant volumes of verified CDR credits starting in 2026.
“This project embodies innovation in carbon management,” said Steven Lemeshow of EcoEngineers. “By combining reliable rail transport and geological storage, Frontier makes industrial carbon capture and storage more accessible.”
Frontier is registering the SCS Hub in the voluntary carbon market (VCM) to ensure it meets rigorous verification and marketability standards. The project is expected to qualify for multiple crediting pathways under established VCM registries, further enhancing its credibility.
The SCS Hub goes beyond carbon capture by contributing to regional sustainability through initiatives like workforce development programs, supporting local healthcare resources, and wildlife conservation efforts.
This aligns with Frontier’s commitment to fostering both environmental and economic benefits for the communities it serves.
“Rail is the most environmentally responsible way to move freight by land, reducing greenhouse gas emissions up to 75% compared to truck,” said Union Pacific President Beth Whited. “By leveraging Union Pacific’s Carbon by Rail program with partners like Frontier, customers have an effective strategy to make a significant environmental impact that didn’t exist in the past.”
