Restoring the Global CO² Balance

DAC technologies extract CO₂ directly from the atmosphere. Large quantities of CO₂ must be separated from the air to limit the rise of global temperature. Captured CO₂ can be permanently stored in deep geological formations, thereby achieving negative emissions. It can also be used for products and processes such as enriching greenhouses or synthetic fuels. According to the International Energy Agency, some benefits of Direct Air Capture as a carbon removal option include its limited land and water footprint and the possibility of locating plants close to suitable storage or utilization sites, eliminating the need for long-distance CO2 transport. Several technologies are available today: Liquid absorption systems pass air through chemical solutions (e.g. hydroxide solutions). Solid sorbent systems use filters that chemically bind CO₂. When the solutions or filters are heated, they release the concentrated CO₂. Electrochemically-based technologies use electrical energy to generate chemical reactions that separate CO₂ from the air.

This is one of the first questions that comes to mind when considering carbon capture. Because carbon dioxide is a harmful emission, it must be treated in the same way we handle our waste. Although CO₂ “waste” in the air is invisible, we can definitely pull it out. Then, the CO₂ is either stored underground (net negative) or used to make net zero carbon products. But who will pay for it? The answer, simply, is that each and every one of us SHOULD pay for it. Our individual and collective carbon footprint will soon affect the cost of the products and services we all need. Naturally, we will all benefit from the positive impact on the environment. Governments around the world now see carbon capture as an industrial opportunity and are developing a commercial value chain to drive costs down. They are also developing regulations, incentive programs, carbon taxes and trade to make DAC an economically viable solution.

According to the scientific literature, Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS) is a complementary technology to other negative emission approaches, such as bioenergy with carbon capture & storage and afforestation. The benefits of DACCS include its ability to capture the CO₂ produced by distributed sources, it’s modular, and it doesn’t have major water and land interactions. DAC’s scalability is currently the key factor limiting its deployment.

RepAir’s electrochemical cell operates at ambient temperature and uses solely electrical energy for the CO₂ separation process. This significantly reduces the energy cost compared to current solutions. Furthermore, by using renewable energy sources, we can ensure minimal carbon footprint.