WHAT IS DIRECT
AIR CAPTURE?
Direct Air Capture (DAC) is a technology that removes carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere.
Using high-powered fans, air is drawn into a processing facility where the CO₂ is separated through a series of chemical reactions. Then the CO₂ is either permanently stored in underground reservoirs through secure geologic sequestration, or is used to make new products such as building materials and low-carbon fuels.
RAMPING UP DAC
Today there are a total of 18 DAC facilities in operation from a number of different companies around the world. All told, they capture just 0.01 million tonnes of CO₂ per year.¹
1PointFive just completed the Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) phase on what will be the largest DAC facility in the world. Once operational, our first facility is expected to capture 500,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year with the capability to scale up to 1 million metric tonnes per year.
CURRENT
OPERATING
FACILITIES
0.01
MILLION
TONNES CO₂
FIRST 1POINTFIVE FACILITY
500
THOUSAND TONNES CO₂
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
According to the sixth Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), “In addition to deep, rapid, and sustained emission reductions, carbon dioxide removal (CDR) can fulfill three different complementary roles globally or at country level: lowering net CO₂ or net GHG emissions in the near term; counterbalancing ‘hard-to-abate’ residual emissions (e.g., emissions from agriculture, aviation, shipping, industrial processes) in order to help reach net zero CO₂ or net zero GHG emissions in the mid-term; and achieving net negative CO₂ or GHG emissions in the long term if deployed at levels exceeding annual residual emissions.”²
NET GLOBAL CO₂ EMISSIONS
Fig. 1 IPCC 6th Assessment Report, Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change
HOW DAC WORKS
1PointFive is developing Carbon Engineering’s Direct Air Capture technology. This technology works by drawing air into a facility using a series of large fans. The air comes in contact with a chemical solution that binds to the CO₂ molecules. The CO₂-rich solution is then processed through a series of reactions that separate, purify and compress the CO₂. The resulting CO₂ can then be permanently stored or used as a feedstock for other products.
For a detailed explanation of the DAC process, watch the video below.
BENEFITS OF A LIQUID SORBENT TECHNOLOGY
Carbon Engineering’s DAC technology uses a liquid sorbent rather than a solid adsorbent. This technology distinction offers two significant benefits:
1.
Liquid sorbent enables a continuous-loop process (vs. a batch process utilized in solid sorbent technologies). This continuous-loop process means a 1PointFive DAC facility is expected to run 24/7, a key enabler for megaton scale removal.
2.
The liquid sorbent process inherently produces a high-purity CO₂ stream (95%+ CO₂). The solid adsorbent technology requires a combined temperature-vacuum swing adsorption (TVSA) process to extract the CO₂ in concentrated form. Achieving high levels of purity via TVSA requires significant energy and high pressures that add significant cost.
DESIGN ONE.
1PointFive is working with global EPC Worley on the design and construction of the first DAC facility using proven processes and equipment.
We’re designing these facilities to leverage modularity in the air contactor systems, which capture 10,000 tonnes per year each, while taking advantage of economies of scale in a centralized processing facility where the captured CO₂ can be aggregated and processed in large volumes.
DAC facilities require electricity to operate the air contactors and processing equipment. All 1PointFive facilities will be powered by zero-emission energy sources, such as wind, solar or NET Power.
Additionally, a lifecycle emissions analysis (LCA) for each DAC facility will be completed in compliance with internationally recognized methodologies. Lifecycle emissions will be removed from the atmosphere for every 1PointFive DAC facility.
BUILD MANY.
1PointFive expects to build 70+ DAC facilities across the globe by 2035. That number could increase to 135 facilities if global government and market support for achieving climate targets increases.
We plan to build these facilities in regions that meet the following key criteria:
-
Have public policy and incentives that support CO₂ removals in place today or are expected to during this development timeframe
-
Show growing demand for carbon removal credits or low-carbon fuels
-
Possess scalable business attributes such as geologic storage, synthetic fuel production inputs and zero-emission electricity production
-
Have sustainable development goals
GROWING CORPORATE
SUPPORT
Voluntary support for DAC is increasing in the corporate sector. More and more companies across a wide range of industries are committing to net-zero emissions and seeking solutions to achieve their targets. Industry leaders including Airbus, SK, Shopify, ThermoFisher, and United Airlines have shown early support for 1PointFive DAC.
DAC ECONOMICS
The Goldman Sachs Carbonomics 2020 Emission Abatement cost curve showcases five gigatons of non-abatable emissions, which DAC can address. Additionally, DAC can provide a lower-cost abatement solution in the near-term for hard-to-decarbonize transportation industries, where the average cost of abatement via alternative fuels exceeds $600/tonne.
1PointFive DAC carbon removal can provide a competitively priced solution for these hard-to-abate sectors.
THE GOLDMAN SACHS CARBONOMICS 2020 EMISSION ABATEMENT COST CURVE
PARTNERS
Carbon Engineering (CE) is a climate solutions company. CE is focused on the global deployment of large-scale DAC technology that captures CO₂ out of the atmosphere so it can be permanently stored deep underground or used to produce clean, affordable transportation fuels. With its partners, CE is working to deploy large-scale, commercial DAC facilities in multiple markets around the globe. More at carbonengineering.com.
CE CEO, Daniel Friedmann, said: “The most recent IPCC report reiterated again that, alongside emission reductions, we need to remove vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to achieve net-zero targets by 2050. To address this critical need, we’re working with 1PointFive to offer DAC facilities as a ready-to operate, turnkey solution. We see this new, franchise-like model as the most feasible, affordable and financeable path forward for CE’s DAC technology to make a meaningful impact on the huge climate challenge.”
Worley is a global company headquartered in Australia whose purpose is to deliver a more sustainable world. Worley is a leading global provider of professional project and asset services in the energy, chemicals and resources sectors. As a knowledge-based service provider, Worley helps its customers reduce their emissions and move toward a low carbon future. Visit worley.com for more information.
“Partnering with 1PointFive on this project aligns perfectly with our desire to deliver a more sustainable world,” noted Worley CEO Chris Ashton. “And their vision of a circular economy that includes direct air capture has the power to drive future sustainability at the intersection of economics, energy and the environment. Climate change is a big challenge to take on. But we’ll have some of the brightest minds in the world on this historic project.”
SOURCES
¹ IEA (2021), Direct Air Capture, IEA, Paris https://www.iea.org/reports/direct-air-capture
Fig. 1 IPCC 6th Assessment Report, Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change, Summary For Policymakers, pg 30
² IPCC 6th Assessment Report, Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change, Summary For Policymakers, pg 40, c11.4