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Direct Air Capture

We believe that this innovative technology solution can help companies achieve their objectives and help curb global temperature rise.

What Does it do?

Direct Air Capture (DAC) removes carbon dioxide 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 can either be stored in underground reservoirs through geologic sequestration or used to make new products.

“We believe Direct Air Capture technology is a vital part of the solution. The scalability of our technology is one of its key differentiators. Due in large part to the materials we use and the processes we continue to optimize, we are preparing to deploy our technology at a scale that can make a difference.”

Tony Cottone

VP, Finance of 1PointFive

Powering DAC

Before we jump into the science behind DAC, it's important to understand the power strategy. Direct Air Capture requires power to operate mission-critical equipment within the facility that is used to move, process and separate large volumes of CO₂ from captured air. 1PointFive is developing a holistic power strategy using a portfolio of additional renewables and emerging low-carbon intensity power generation methods.

Our first DAC facility, STRATOS, is designed to achieve net-zero power emissions* through a combination of on-site power and off-site renewable-specified power from the grid. This power will be sourced from additional capacity for renewable electricity. STRATOS will also use natural gas to achieve the high temperatures needed in the calciner. The CO₂ emissions from that process will be co-captured with the atmospheric CO₂.
*On an average over four quarters, the power demanded by the DAC plant and the power supplied by the additional renewable generation on-site and via PPAs balance each other.

How Does DAC Work?

1PointFive's sister company, Carbon Engineering (CE), developed this DAC technology and first captured CO₂ from the atmosphere in 2015 at a pilot plant in Squamish, British Columbia and continues to drive innovation in Direct Air Capture. We believe the recent acquisition of Holocene, which is additive to CE technology, will enable us to advance R&D activities to improve the efficiency of our direct air capture process, reduce CO₂ capture costs and accelerate DAC deployment. Let's take a closer look at the science behind DAC and see how CO₂ is captured.

Step 1. Air Contactors and Capture Solution

The process begins when air is pulled into the DAC facility with dozens of large, high-powered fans that draw air into each unit where it is absorbed into a chemical solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) and water which bonds to the CO₂. This bonding happens as the potassium hydroxide flows across a highly engineered PVC packing system designed to increase the surface area and amount of CO₂ captured. Once the liquid solution reaches the unit’s outlet, the process of concentrating the captured CO₂ begins.

Step 2. Pellet Reactor

Next, the solution is pumped into a piece of equipment called a pellet reactor. Calcium hydroxide is added forming small pellets of calcium carbonate that hold the captured carbon.

Step 3. Centrifuge

The pellet/liquid solution is then pumped into a centrifuge where the pellets are separated from the refreshed potassium hydroxide. The pellets are then dried while the potassium hydroxide liquid is filtered and recycled back to the air contactors to capture more CO₂.

Step 4. Calciner

From the centrifuge, the calcium carbonate pellets are moved to a calciner where they are exposed to high temperatures and converted into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide. The captured carbon dioxide is sent off to be compressed and either stored or utilized.

Step 5. Slaker

The calcium oxide is recycled back into the process. It is first sent to a slaker, where, mixed with water, calcium hydroxide is formed and ready to go back into the pellet reactor where it will be used again to create new calcium carbonate pellets.

Final Step: After the Process

Now that the CO₂ has been captured, separated, purified, and compressed, it can be stored deep underground or used as feedstock for new products such as cement, plastics or even low-carbon fuels.

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