An apparatus for producing formate from carbon dioxide includes a reactor (115) that is configured to receive carbon dioxide from a separation device (109) and a first reagent to form a formate and a bicarbonate material. The bicarbonate material is sent to a regeneration device (123) that also receives a second reagent from a source of the second reagent to form the first reagent and a carbonate material. The first reagent is recycled back to the reactor (115). The carbonate material can be stored in a storage device (131) for subsequent sale or other use and/or sent to a process device (109) of a plant for processing flue gas to remove one or more acid gas elements from the flue gas by using the carbonate material received from the regeneration device (123). A method for producing formate from carbon dioxide can include use of the apparatus.