Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AirInMotion (Accelerating Energy-Efficient Atmospheric Carbon Capture Technologies)
Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2024-12-31
Within the EIC AirInMotion project, we scale up, demonstrate, validate and develop the commercialisation of our innovative atmospheric carbon capture technology that efficiently captures CO2 from air. The technology offers an opportunity to address industries whose indirect CO2 emissions in the supply chain cannot be removed at source, achieving significant emission reductions through remediation where this was not previously possible or has not been addressed by regulation or policy requirements. The CO2 capture technology is modular, scalable and location-independent. The resulting capture units can operate as stand-alone units or integrated in industrial processes using low-grade waste heat. Industrial integration facilitates CO2 capture at scale and results in pure CO2, providing a high-value commodity in a circular carbon economy that strives for climate-neutrality. The captured CO2 can directly be used (e.g. in the food industry), transformed (e.g. into fuels) or sequestered.
(1) WP-1: Construction of an Industrial CO2 Capture Prototype (0-12 months): Within the first 12 months of the grant, we successfully established an industrial demonstrator whose design features are based on data from smaller prototypes accomplished through previous grants. The unit can capture tonne quantities of CO2/annum, operating at air flow rates of >1000 m³/h. Key design features include copper, water-based heat exchanger tubes integrated into the adsorber bed, in line with our previous European patent applications. The objectives for the demonstrator construction were fully achieved within the planned timeframe. The team is now optimizing process parameters and performance.
(2) WP-1: Multiple Adsorber Systems (0-18 months): Over the past 12 months, notable progress has been made on assembling the laboratory capture test rig, designed to include four independently addressable contactors (each with ~500 g adsorbent capacity). The individual contactor vessels have been successfully constructed, and the assembly of the proposed rig is nearing completion. Once fully operational, the test rig will allow precise variation of air velocities, regeneration temperatures, vacuum conditions, and energy consumption measurements. Preliminary analyses suggest that synchronizing multiple capture units will enable internal energy savings of approximately 30% by optimizing heating and cooling processes of individual contactors.
(3) WP1: Adsorbent Optimization (0-24 months): Significant advancements have been made in optimizing CO2 adsorbents during the initial phases of this 24-month objective. Our target materials are cost-effective, available in large quantities, and exhibit excellent stability under DAC operational conditions. Ongoing efforts focus on enhancing synthetic procedures to increase primary aliphatic amine content for higher CO2 sorption capacities and reduced operational costs. Current development prioritizes green synthetic methods, avoiding organic solvents, and employing readily available reagents. Preliminary results highlight the potential of macroporous organic polymers; the initial adsorbent was modified in a single functionalization step, leveraging the reactivity between chlorine moieties and amine groups to enhance the amine content. This cost-effective method improved the CO2 capture performance of the amine-functionalized porous polystyrene by ~40%. Research also focuses on amine functionalization of new sustainable adsorbents that may derive from biomass.
(4) WP-2: Activities for External Validation of AirInMotion (Planning 0-12 months; Deployment 15-36 months): Planning for the external validation of AirInMotion and deploying the prototype at industrial partners is progressing as proposed. Meetings with relevant stakeholders facilitated the exchange of operational parameters and assessment of site-specific deployment constraints. Deployment of the technology at industrial sites is advancing. Numerous meetings with CERN representatives organised the work program for technology deployment. Additionally, deployment is being organized at sites of a National Irish electricity provider to demonstrate the technology at one of their power plants utilizing waste heat.
(5) WP-3: Commercial Strategy Development (0-36 months): Significant progress has been made in fostering relationships with industry partners, performing market analyses, and identifying potential customers and stakeholders. These activities aim to establish permanent CO2 capture plants at customer sites. Meetings with multinational CO2 users, waste heat suppliers, and venture capital providers helped identify early adopters, strategic partners, and funding opportunities. The drafted business plan defines the strategy, market, revenue model, and funding requirements for the spin-out. Strategic planning is on track to support a smooth transition toward establishing the commercial entity. Regular meetings with the Trinity College Technology Transfer Office defined IP transfer terms and timelines for the spin-out.
(2) WP-1: Multiple Adsorber Systems (0-18 months): Over the past 12 months, notable progress has been made on assembling the laboratory capture test rig, designed to include four independently addressable contactors (each with ~500 g adsorbent capacity). The individual contactor vessels have been successfully constructed, and the assembly of the proposed rig is nearing completion. Once fully operational, the test rig will allow precise variation of air velocities, regeneration temperatures, vacuum conditions, and energy consumption measurements. Preliminary analyses suggest that synchronizing multiple capture units will enable internal energy savings of approximately 30% by optimizing heating and cooling processes of individual contactors.
(3) WP1: Adsorbent Optimization (0-24 months): Significant advancements have been made in optimizing CO2 adsorbents during the initial phases of this 24-month objective. Our target materials are cost-effective, available in large quantities, and exhibit excellent stability under DAC operational conditions. Ongoing efforts focus on enhancing synthetic procedures to increase primary aliphatic amine content for higher CO2 sorption capacities and reduced operational costs. Current development prioritizes green synthetic methods, avoiding organic solvents, and employing readily available reagents. Preliminary results highlight the potential of macroporous organic polymers; the initial adsorbent was modified in a single functionalization step, leveraging the reactivity between chlorine moieties and amine groups to enhance the amine content. This cost-effective method improved the CO2 capture performance of the amine-functionalized porous polystyrene by ~40%. Research also focuses on amine functionalization of new sustainable adsorbents that may derive from biomass.
(4) WP-2: Activities for External Validation of AirInMotion (Planning 0-12 months; Deployment 15-36 months): Planning for the external validation of AirInMotion and deploying the prototype at industrial partners is progressing as proposed. Meetings with relevant stakeholders facilitated the exchange of operational parameters and assessment of site-specific deployment constraints. Deployment of the technology at industrial sites is advancing. Numerous meetings with CERN representatives organised the work program for technology deployment. Additionally, deployment is being organized at sites of a National Irish electricity provider to demonstrate the technology at one of their power plants utilizing waste heat.
(5) WP-3: Commercial Strategy Development (0-36 months): Significant progress has been made in fostering relationships with industry partners, performing market analyses, and identifying potential customers and stakeholders. These activities aim to establish permanent CO2 capture plants at customer sites. Meetings with multinational CO2 users, waste heat suppliers, and venture capital providers helped identify early adopters, strategic partners, and funding opportunities. The drafted business plan defines the strategy, market, revenue model, and funding requirements for the spin-out. Strategic planning is on track to support a smooth transition toward establishing the commercial entity. Regular meetings with the Trinity College Technology Transfer Office defined IP transfer terms and timelines for the spin-out.
Our initial results demonstrate:
(1) The technology is scalable, facilitating CO2 capture at industrial scales. The novelty, impact, and competitive advantage of the technology stem from its excellent operational performance compared to competitor technologies at the demonstration level.
(2) The adsorbent characteristics can be enhanced through relatively simple chemical transformations, providing a clear milestone for reducing CO2 capture costs.
(3) Similarly, optimizations in the contactor design lead to a reduction in the capital costs of the technology.
(4) The market analysis highlights the potential of the technology as a feedstock provider in a circular carbon economy. In particular, the scale and purity requirements for CO2 in the production of sustainable fuels (e.g. sustainable aviation fuels) represent a significant commercial opportunity.
(5) Strategic partnerships with scalable waste heat suppliers and CO2 providers establish a clear pathway to scale the technology and lower CAPEX and OPEX.
(6) Strong industrial interest underscores the commercial opportunity and potential impact.
Indicative impacts:
(1) Waste heat integration, scale-up, and continued technology development can achieve capture costs of 70€/tCO2 (OPEX), demonstrating the viability of DAC technologies.
(2) The data suggest that DAC CO2 can serve as a high-quality CO2 feedstock in a circular carbon economy.
Key needs to ensure further uptake and success:
(1) Experimental and projection data highlight the significant capital investment required to scale the technology to the necessary CO2 quantities and achieve cost reductions at higher TRLs.
(2) EU finding schemes need to provide incentives to scalable industrial demonstrations.
(1) The technology is scalable, facilitating CO2 capture at industrial scales. The novelty, impact, and competitive advantage of the technology stem from its excellent operational performance compared to competitor technologies at the demonstration level.
(2) The adsorbent characteristics can be enhanced through relatively simple chemical transformations, providing a clear milestone for reducing CO2 capture costs.
(3) Similarly, optimizations in the contactor design lead to a reduction in the capital costs of the technology.
(4) The market analysis highlights the potential of the technology as a feedstock provider in a circular carbon economy. In particular, the scale and purity requirements for CO2 in the production of sustainable fuels (e.g. sustainable aviation fuels) represent a significant commercial opportunity.
(5) Strategic partnerships with scalable waste heat suppliers and CO2 providers establish a clear pathway to scale the technology and lower CAPEX and OPEX.
(6) Strong industrial interest underscores the commercial opportunity and potential impact.
Indicative impacts:
(1) Waste heat integration, scale-up, and continued technology development can achieve capture costs of 70€/tCO2 (OPEX), demonstrating the viability of DAC technologies.
(2) The data suggest that DAC CO2 can serve as a high-quality CO2 feedstock in a circular carbon economy.
Key needs to ensure further uptake and success:
(1) Experimental and projection data highlight the significant capital investment required to scale the technology to the necessary CO2 quantities and achieve cost reductions at higher TRLs.
(2) EU finding schemes need to provide incentives to scalable industrial demonstrations.