Breaking the energy barrier: The novel chemistry that could unlock DAC at scale

Current methods of capturing CO2 require large amounts of energy (about 1,600 kilowatt-hours per ton of CO2). This team developed an energy-efficient electrochemical approach that captures CO2 continuously. It relies on a redox reaction that swings pH, which enables CO2 capture at high pH and CO2 release at low pH. Through this method, the team aims to reduce the energy requirement by about an order of magnitude. The team built and tested a benchtop flow cell and measured its energy savings. 

In the longer term, the team plans to build a pilot-scale facility that will be approximately 10 times smaller than a conventional (amine) plant. This novel CO2 capture project has the potential to remove CO2 continuously at the scale of billions of tons while reducing long-term material costs and increasing energy efficiency.