Articles tagged with "direct-air-capture"
Building the world's largest direct air capture facility
The Stratos facility in West Texas is set to become the world’s largest commercial-scale direct air capture (DAC) plant, aiming to begin operations by the end of 2025. Designed to capture 500,000 tonnes of CO2 annually—about 14 times the capacity of the current largest DAC plant in Iceland—Stratos represents a critical test of whether DAC technology can be scaled beyond pilot projects. DAC is a cutting-edge carbon removal method that extracts CO2 directly from ambient air, which contains CO2 at a very low concentration (~0.04%), requiring the processing of massive volumes of air through chemical systems that bind and then release concentrated CO2 for underground storage. DAC differs fundamentally from traditional carbon capture and storage (CCS), which captures CO2 from concentrated emission sources such as power plants. Because atmospheric CO2 is roughly 1,000 times more dilute than point-source emissions, DAC systems must handle much larger air volumes, resulting in higher energy use, costs, and engineering challenges
energycarbon-capturedirect-air-captureclimate-technologyrenewable-energycarbon-removalenvironmental-engineeringDepartment of Energy cancels $7.5B of clean energy projects in mostly blue states
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the cancellation of 321 clean energy awards totaling approximately $7.56 billion. These cuts predominantly affected projects in states that supported Kamala Harris in the last presidential election, many of which are governed by Democrats, though some projects in Republican-leaning states were also canceled. Notably, significant funding was withdrawn from California’s $1.2 billion hydrogen hub project and at least 10 direct air capture (DAC) projects worth $47.3 million, although some DAC projects in Alaska, Kentucky, Louisiana, and North Dakota remain intact. The canceled awards spanned various DOE offices, including Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy and Clean Energy Demonstrations, with 26% of the awards having been granted between Election Day and Inauguration Day. These cancellations reflect the Trump administration’s broader effort to slow the transition away from fossil fuels, as evidenced by previous DOE and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contract cancellations totaling billions of dollars. Many affected
energyclean-energyDepartment-of-Energyhydrogen-hubdirect-air-capturerenewable-energyenergy-policyDACLab says it can remove CO2 using less electricity than many competitors
DACLab, a startup emerging from stealth mode with $3 million in seed funding, claims it can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using significantly less electricity than many competitors. While direct air capture (DAC) typically requires around 2,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per metric ton of CO2 captured, DACLab reports achieving this at approximately 1,500 kWh per ton, with plans to reduce consumption below 1,000 kWh per ton. Their technology, adapted from an industrial carbon capture system developed at TU Wien in Austria in partnership with Shell, separates the CO2 capture and release processes into different locations, allowing for lower heat requirements (around 70°C) and improved energy efficiency compared to conventional integrated systems. DACLab has built two pilot units capable of capturing 100 metric tons of CO2 annually, priced under $500,000 each, with plans to scale up to units capturing 1,000 and 5,000 metric tons per year. Initial
energycarbon-capturedirect-air-captureCO2-removalclean-technologyrenewable-energyclimate-change-mitigationPersistence Pays Off For Direct Air Carbon Capture
The article highlights significant progress in the field of direct air carbon capture (DAC), focusing on the collaboration between Swiss firm Climeworks and Icelandic startup Carbfix at the Hellisheiði geothermal power plant. Since its founding in 2009, Climeworks has been developing DAC technology to economically remove atmospheric CO2. Partnering with Carbfix, which specializes in underground carbon mineralization, they have integrated DAC with Carbfix’s process of injecting CO2-rich, acidic carbonated water into basaltic rock formations. This results in rapid mineralization, permanently storing over 95% of injected CO2 as stable carbonates within two years—much faster than previously expected. The geothermal plant’s volcanic emissions, although low compared to fossil fuel plants, provide a target for this carbon removal, enhancing Iceland’s reputation for low-carbon energy. The collaboration has evolved since 2017, with Climeworks expanding its DAC facility at Hellisheiði and applying lessons from their initial “Arctic Fox” pilot.
energydirect-air-capturecarbon-capturegeothermal-powercarbon-mineralizationrenewable-energycarbon-storageDirect Air Carbon Capture Is Scaling Up, With Mineralization
The article discusses the evolving landscape of carbon capture technologies, with a particular focus on direct air capture (DAC) and mineralization as promising approaches for long-term carbon sequestration. While federal support for carbon capture in the US is declining—highlighted by the Department of Energy’s recent cancellation of a $3.7 billion decarbonization demonstration program—global efforts continue to advance. The article contrasts various carbon capture methods, noting that biofuels and electrofuels recirculate carbon but depend heavily on supportive public policies. More durable sequestration options include reforestation and reforming captured carbon into solid products, such as incorporating it into cement. Mineralization emerges as a key solution for sustainable, long-term carbon storage by chemically locking carbon dioxide into stable carbonate minerals through reactions with reactive igneous or metamorphic rocks. This method offers advantages over traditional underground sequestration in porous sedimentary rock, where carbon can potentially escape. The US Geological Survey estimates significant underground sequestration capacity, but
energycarbon-capturedirect-air-capturemineralizationdecarbonizationcarbon-sequestrationsustainable-technologyClimeworks’ DAC & Fiscal Collapse & The Brutal Reality Of Pulling Carbon From The Sky
energycarbon-capturedirect-air-captureclimate-technologyemissions-reductionthermodynamicsrenewable-energyClimeFi Launches Analyst Rating Coverage On Deep Sky’s Tech-Agnostic DAC Projects
energycarbon-removaldirect-air-capturesustainabilitytechnology-agnosticclimate-innovationCO₂-removal