༄ Electrochemical DAC Technology Plants: Regenerating Supply Chains

16 Aug

Summary:

Electrochemical DAC Technology captures carbon from the atmosphere in any location. This sequestered carbon dioxide can then either be used in alternative supply chains or permanently stored away.

The Problem

To have a 50% chance of keeping warming below 1.5°C , the world can only afford to emit 250 billion tonnes more of CO2.

Given the world emitted 41 billion tonnes of CO2 in 2022, this means if we hope to limit warming to 1.5°C, we only have 6 years left with our current emissions.

Global warming is impairing the ability of natural carbon sinks to absorb CO2, weakening or even reversing their ability to absorb carbon dioxide.

Natural carbon sinks that removed about 60% of annual human-caused CO2 emissions in 1959 now only remove 55% today.

Considering the pressing nature of this matter, DAC Technology may offer a technological solution to aid in the capture and sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

The Scape

Electrochemical DAC Technology Plants: A Staple for Supply Chains

Imagine in the not-so-distant future, one of the main culprits for climate change has become a building block for building new infrastructure. With incredible versatility, efficiency and reliability, electrochemical DAC Plants have popped up across the country.

These DAC Plants capture and sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide. This CO2 is then used to produce construction-grade limestone for building carbon-negative infrastructure. At a systems level, this forms a regenerative supply chain by removing and reusing carbon from the atmosphere.

Pioneered by Mission Zero Technologies, the process consists of four steps. First, akin to the taking of a breath, the DAC Plant’s Fans pull in air from the surrounding atmosphere. After which, the carbon in the air is dissolved in a water-based solvent. For this particular plant, access to water is ensured by a nearby hydroelectric dam; supplying both water and renewable electricity for the functioning of the process.

This electricity powers the next step in which carbon is released from the solvent as CO2 through electrodialysis. Though the first operational plants were only able to recover 60-80 tonnes of CO2 every year, this current plant can recover up to 500 tCO2 each year. Doing so with at least 4x more energy efficiency than pre-existing DAC technologies.

This consistent supply of Carbon Dioxide can be used as the building block for O.C.O Technology’s carbon-negative material. Their process involves the treating of thermal residue with CO2, bound with binders and fillers, to produce the aggregate M-LS (Manufactured LimeStone). For local infrastructure, this material has become a staple material of choice. Most of the pavements in surrounding towns and cities have been made using this material. Even M-LS Geodesic domes have become increasingly frequent in the surrounding landscape, each with slightly different gradients of colour within a greyish monochromatic colour scheme.

The DAC Plant’s modular design allows the plant to expand its operations over time, with simple and flexible integration of new containers. Projects (like M-LS) that value and utilise CO2 help these plants expand their operations far more quickly.

Some CO2 is transported through pipelines further afield to alternative solutions for using or storing this captured atmospheric carbon dioxide. Ranging from jet fuel to artificial photosynthesis, an exciting variety of projects have emerged to make use of this now readily available and abundant resource.

Downstream Value Creation

1. Large-scale Carbon Sequestration

The main value creation is the removal of large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Removing this planetary-warming gas in large amounts through DAC technology can help mitigate the worst effects of climate change.
2. Carbon-negative Construction Material

M-LS can offer carbon-negative building materials to empower local communities to build new and improved infrastructure through a regenerative supply chain.
Taking this whole system approach to the supply side of construction materials, and through the combination of different emerging technologies, creating valuable building materials for society has a valuable impact on the environment.
3. Regenerating Existing Supply Chains

By creating a reliable source of CO2, existing industries will strive to innovate and take advantage.
Sustainable aviation fuel is an example of a solution that can help reduce carbon emissions from flying up to 80%. CO2 from this process can offer a fossil-free carbon source for many of these carbon-based fuels.