daclab CO2 Removal Technology - Lower Energy Consumption

Global Carbon Removal Efforts and the Role of DACLab

Despite international commitments to reduce carbon emissions, global pollution levels reached a record high last year, indicating a significant shortfall in achieving stated goals.

Addressing this gap necessitates the active removal of carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. However, this process is inherently energy-intensive and therefore costly. Current projections estimate that capturing one metric ton of CO₂ via direct air capture will require approximately 2,000 kWh of energy once the technology is fully developed and implemented on a large scale.

DACLab's Approach to Lowering Energy Consumption

The startup, DACLab, asserts it is already achieving carbon removal at a reduced energy cost. “We have data that I can share with you at 1,500 kilowatt hours per [metric] ton,” stated Aditya Bhandari, co-founder and CEO of DACLab, in an interview with TechCrunch.

Having operated in a stealth mode for the past four years, DACLab has now publicly announced its emergence alongside a $3 million seed funding round. This investment was spearheaded by Peter Relan, an early investor in Discord, with additional participation from Dave Roux of Silver Lake, Jane Woodward of WovenEarth Ventures, and other investors.

Traditional direct air capture systems typically involve passing air over a solid material designed to absorb carbon dioxide. Once saturated, the material requires a process to release the captured CO₂ for subsequent storage. This release phase is often energy-intensive, frequently requiring heat in the range of 80°C to 120°C. (Systems utilizing liquid sorbents generally demand even greater heat input.)

To minimize overall costs, many companies integrate the capture and release processes within a single unit. DACLab, conversely, employs a separated approach, conducting carbon capture in one location and CO₂ release in another. Bhandari indicated that the heat required for their solid sorbent system is comparatively low, around 70°C.

Technology Origins and Future Plans

This bifurcated system is commonly found in industrial settings where exhaust streams are more concentrated. DACLab’s technology is an adaptation of designs originally developed for such industrial applications. (Global Thermostat, another startup in this space, also previously utilized a split design before being sold for parts.)

The core technology behind DACLab originates from TU Wien in Austria, where a collaboration with Shell resulted in a point-source carbon capture unit that operated for nearly three years. “This is very unusual, when you compare it with a lot of these other director capture research groups,” Bhandari explained, highlighting that it represented the largest carbon capture facility in Austria at the time.

The startup has refined this technology for direct air capture applications. DACLab has currently constructed two units with a combined capacity of capturing 100 metric tons of CO₂ annually. Plans are in place to develop larger units capable of capturing 1,000 and 5,000 metric tons per year. The 1,000-ton unit will be deployed in Washington state, while the 5,000-ton unit will be installed in Kenya.

Currently, DACLab offers its 100-metric ton unit for under $500,000, according to Bhandari. The company envisions supplying units to a diverse range of clients, including oil and gas companies, carbon project developers, and businesses involved in the production of e-fuels for aviation.

Cost Reduction and Industry Outlook

The ultimate cost-effectiveness of carbon capture is heavily dependent on energy consumption. DACLab is actively working to further reduce energy usage to below 1,000 kWh per metric ton. Achieving this would enable the company to capture carbon dioxide at a cost of $250 per metric ton.

“We’re not going to be one of those director capture companies that promise you that we are going to reach $100 per [metric] ton today,” Bhandari stated. “Hopefully we can reboot this much needed industry, because it is filled with a lot of, I would say, empty promises.”

Note: Experts estimate that direct air capture will require approximately 2,000 kWh of total energy, encompassing both heat and electricity.