HYDROGEN & CCS
DIRECT AIR CAPTURE A decarbonisation toolkit essential
the air in a simple, scalable solution. The SMARTDAC technology is designed around the concept of a standardised module which can be arranged in several configurations to fit the available space or required capacity for CO2 removal. This flexibility makes SMART-DAC an ideal solution for small, medium or large industrial sites looking to reduce their carbon emissions or for industries looking to utilise the captured CO2.
The drive to net-zero is well underway; however, it will be impossible to cease using fossil fuels completely in the short term. We are in a transition, and the advice from the Climate Change Committee is that the transition from heavy reliance on hydrocarbons to clean, renewable energy must be bold and technology-led to deliver our climate goals, whilst creating jobs and economic opportunities.
In June 2020, the Prime Minister announced up to £100 million of new research and development funding to help develop direct air capture (DAC) technologies in the UK. As part of this, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) launched the Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGR)Innovation Competition which seeks to support the development of GGR technologies to reach commercialisation.
"We can't suddenly cut all our emissions from fossil fuels. It must be a transition. Combining a mix of clean energy sources and carbon reduction and capture methods will accelerate our journey to net-zero", says Iain Martin, Project Manager at the Net Zero Technology Centre.
A capture solution smarter than the rest The Net Zero Technology Centre, along with consortium partners, worked with DAC technology developer CO2CirculAir to secure BEIS funding for it’s SMART-DAC technology. The novel solution captures CO2 directly from air by utilising natural airflow, avoiding using energyintensive air blowers, while harnessing renewable energy to power the absorbent regeneration process —making it a zero Iain Martin emissions solution for CO2 capture.
The Net Zero Technology Centre was established in 2017 as part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal, with £180 million of UK and Scottish government funding, it focuses on accelerating the transition to a long-term sustainable energy system Ronnie Quinn through innovation and CEO NECCUS technology development and The SMART-DAC technology deployment. It brings together uses a two-step process to technology developers, industry capture and separate CO2 from partners and academia to identify and the air. The first step in the process is drive the creative solutions needed. membrane gas absorption, which uses an alkaline solution to absorb the CO2 from the air Removing carbon from the atmosphere, as it passes through the membrane. converting, and utilising it will lead to carbon neutrality. The centre sees developing The second step is the regeneration of the practical carbon capture solutions as an absorbent by membrane electrolysis where integral part of its work. the CO2 saturated alkaline solution is recycled back into absorbent liquid while the CO2 "All pathways to net-zero propose the use of is concentrated and separated, creating a carbon capture. Thirty-one per cent of global continuous absorption cycle. emissions come from manufacturing, much of which is particularly hard to abate, either The captured CO2 can be used as a carbon because the processes are challenging to source for sustainable chemicals, materials or electrify or switch to hydrogen, or because synthetic fuels or stored to remove CO2 from the of negative effects on product quality. This atmosphere permanently. makes direct air capture and other greenhouse gas removal technologies essential in the Membrane gas absorption offers significant cost decarbonisation toolkit," says Iain Martin. efficiencies and the capacity to remove CO2 from
The technology requires a significantly smaller footprint than enhanced weathering, Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BEECS) and afforestation to remove the same quantity of CO2. As the world moves away from fossil fuels, DAC will be the primary short CO2 cycle solution to produce and use synthetic fuels for transport, shipping and aviation. "Extracting CO2 from the air and using it as a future carbon source, replacing the use of fossil fuels, creates a short energy cycle essential to achieving net-zero," says Jeffrey Felix, CEO at CO2CirculAir. The SMART-DAC technology recently secured additional BEIS funding to support the construction of a pilot plant that will begin testing in spring 2023, capturing a minimum of 100 tonnes of CO2 per annum. Iain Martin continues; "The SMART-DAC technology is a significant opportunity for the UK to capitalise on the engineering strengths and capabilities of the existing energy sector. Successful demonstration, with industry support, of this technology at the pilot scale is an essential first step on the road to scaling up and commercialisation. We need to drive this type of technology down the cost reduction curve and improve reliability." He concludes, “Achieving net-zero requires government initiatives like the BEIS GGR Innovation Competition, which provide essential financial support for new carbon capture projects, bringing the world closer to decarbonising and quickly."
For more information visit www.netzerotc.com
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