What My Summer at the Rail Yards Taught Me about Carbon Capture Systems

This summer I had the opportunity to work with the Global CO2 Initiative, which works to tackle challenges in industrial decarbonization. Working closely with Susan Fancy, managing director of the Global CO2 Initiative and an expert in carbon utilization research, I contributed to the initiative’s Mapping Michigan’s Future project. This state-wide initiative analyzes industrial carbon emissions to locate high-impact opportunities for carbon capture, utilization, and storage across Michigan.

My project focused on the freight industry; I evaluated point-source carbon capture systems at Class I rail switcher yards. I explored supply chain integration, examining how captured carbon can be transported and permanently stored in local materials like concrete and aggregates. Rather than looking at carbon capture as an isolated technical asset, I examined the whole lifecycle: how captured emissions can be aggregated at a yard, transported via standard liquid CO2 trailers, and permanently utilized or stored in local building materials like concrete mineralization, or fed into synthetic fuel production.

Prior to this project, I didn’t have any knowledge of the freight industry. I gained a deep understanding of rail yard infrastructure, energy systems, and regional supply chains. If I could share one piece of advice for students looking for internships, I would say: don't let a lack of initial domain expertise hold you back from tackling complex topics. 

When I started, everything was unfamiliar and difficult to process. This team had a heavy background in engineering—which I was not experienced in at all. However, my genuine interest and fascination with the idea of utilizing the freight industry for clean carbon powered my curiosity and learning. As much as this internship challenged me, I honestly had fun tackling a subject outside of my academic comfort level and translating technical data into actionable insights. 

Connecting climate engineering with real-world freight operations showed me how targeted point-source capture can transform industrial hubs into anchors for regional sustainability. Overall, this was an incredibly rewarding experience.