© ZSW –
Stuttgart – In addition to the expansion of renewable energies, processes for the direct removal of CO2 from the atmosphere, so-called Direct Air Capture (DAC) technologies, make a contribution against climate change. A promising process was developed in Baden-Württemberg. Now it’s about scaling the approach.
The Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) is preparing the DAC technology for industrial application. The aim is to achieve climate neutrality more quickly. At the same time, new value-added potential for industry could be tapped.
The DAC process is intended to provide raw materials for industry and climate-neutral fuels
With the Direct Air Capture process, the ambient air flows through an absorbent that captures part of the CO2withdraws. After desorption and concentration, CO is obtained2 with a high degree of purity, which can then be used directly as a raw material, for example for the chemical industry or for the synthesis of basic chemicals such as methanol and climate-neutral fuels for air traffic and international shipping.
Together with companies from Baden-Württemberg, the industrial application of the DAC technology is to be prepared as part of the “DAC-BW” project funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Transport. To this end, companies from mechanical and plant engineering and the supplier industry in particular are to be involved in the project. “Our DAC technology forms a very good starting point for quickly advancing to dimensions relevant to the energy industry,” says Dr. Marc-Simon Löffler, Head of the Department of Renewable Energy Sources and Processes at the ZSW, about the process.
All companies can take part in the project as part of an industry dialogue – start-ups, small and medium-sized companies as well as large international companies from the mechanical and plant engineering sector.
As a prototype for industry, a direct air capture research facility is to be operated under practical conditions at the ZSW. The procurement of the plant with a generation capacity of up to 100 tons of CO2 per year is financially supported by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Project makes companies fit for future technology DAC
In accompanying industrial workshops, the ZSW wants to make the companies participating in the project fit for entry into this future technology. The future markets for CO2 analyzed as a raw material and the technology with possible alternative CO2-Sources compared. From this follows an estimate of the CO2-Requirements in Germany and Europe as well as worldwide, from which possible value creation and job potentials for Baden-Württemberg can be derived. In the project, the ZSW is also cooperating with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), which is supporting the research facility with flow simulations.
ZSW process suitable for scaling on an industrial scale
ZSW has been researching Direct Air Capture for many years and has already demonstrated the feasibility of efficient, easily scalable and cost-effective DAC technologies. In the process developed by ZSW, the CO2 separated from the air using a modified amine scrubber. According to the ZSW, the process is characterized by its high CO2-Purity as well as a simple and low-maintenance technology and thus offers the ideal prerequisite for scalability on an industrial scale by a factor of 100 or 1,000.
Industrialization would also increase the production costs for the production of CO2 drop significantly from air. A ton currently costs several hundred euros. The aim is to reduce generation costs by scaling the technology and operating the plants in regions with favorable electricity generation potential, such as South America, North Africa or Australia. The ZSW scientists expect the costs to drop to less than 100 euros per tonne of CO2 can be lowered.
What: IWR Online
© IWR, 2022
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