A unique carbon capture technology developed by researchers at the University of Surrey could offer a more cost-effective way to remove carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air and turn it into clean, synthetic fuel.
A study published in Applied Energy demonstrated that the Dual-Function Material (DFM) process — which combines carbon capture and conversion — could match or outperform more established industry methods. Under optimal conditions, it was shown to remove carbon at a cost of US$740 per tonne, with the potential to drop below $400 as materials improve.
>> In Other News: More Hydrogen Fails: Doosan, Air Products Cancel Over $1 Billion in Fuel Cell Deals
Dr. Michael Short, Associate Professor of Process Systems Engineering at the University of Surrey and lead author of the study, said:"For the first time, we've been able to demonstrate it can be financially competitive to use DFMs for direct air capture (DAC) — all the while creating clean fuel like methane in the process.Using green hydrogen from renewable electricity and carbon from the atmosphere, our system can help to replace fossil feedstocks in sectors like steel manufacturing. If a steel mill uses this fuel, it could effectively have zero net emissions — offering a sustainable path to decarbonise industries that are otherwise hard to electrify."
Using superstructure optimisation — an advanced modelling technique — the team tested a wide range of configurations to identify the most cost-effective design for capturing 10,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year — a scale comparable to other commercial systems.
With further improvements in material performance and catalyst cost, researchers suggest it could hold promise for large-scale deployment and can be integrated with existing industry infrastructure.
Dr. Melis Duyar, Associate Professor in Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Surrey, said:"Recycling carbon in this way is a powerful idea, with potential to create many new value chains and enable energy independence by embedding renewable energy into the production of conventional fuels and chemicals."
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that limiting global warming to 1.5°C will require not only cutting emissions but also removing billions of tonnes of CO₂ from the atmosphere this century.
In the lead-up to Net Zero target deadlines, the technology offers a promising and economically viable route to help achieve that goal — while helping us to reduce overreliance on fossil fuels.
Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.
Inside This Issue ⚡ DOE Floats New Cuts To Hundreds Of Clean Energy Grants ⛏️ HyTerra Limited Announces Positive Results From McCoy 1 Well 🍁 As Policy Changed, CarbonCapture Moved Its Pilot Projec...
Inside This Issue 🚢 CF Industries, Trafigura, and Envalior Announce Shipment of Certified Low-Carbon Ammonia 🥤 Skytree Validates DAC System to Generate Pure, Beverage-Grade Liquid CO₂ On-Site 💻 Su...
Inside This Issue 💰 Louisiana's $3.5B Carbon Capture Surge Sets National Decarbonization Blueprint 🌍 UN Climate Summit To Feature First-Ever Carbon Removal Pavilion At COP30 🚛 AtmosClear Selects E...
Air Liquide is enhancing its strategic U.S. Gulf Coast network to support new customers' needs. The Group has secured new hydrogen supply agreements with two of the largest refiners in the U.S. and...
As Policy Changed, CarbonCapture Moved Its Pilot Project From Arizona to Alberta
This innovative climate tech startup just moved its first big project from the U.S. to Canada as Trump threatens the industry. At the beginning of this year, a climate tech startup called CarbonCa...
HyTerra Limited Announces Positive Results From McCoy 1 Well
HyTerra Limited (ASX: HYT), a company focused on exploring for natural hydrogen and helium resources near major industrial hubs and the first company to list on the ASX with a focus on white hydrog...
Prometheus Hyperscale Works With Carbon Capture Firms On New Data Center Campus In Wyoming
Says the gas-powered facility will be carbon negative Prometheus Hyperscale has revealed plans for a second AI data center campus in Wyoming, which it says could eventually deliver 1.5GW of IT cap...
Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.