University of Surrey, a unique carbon capture technology developed by researchers at the university, 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: Cowboy Clean Fuels Unveils Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage Technology Methodology
Dr. Michael Short, Associate Professor of Process Systems Engineering at the University of Surrey, 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 decarbonize 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.
The University of Surrey is a leading university located in Guildford, United Kingdom, known for its excellence in research and innovation across various fields including engineering, science, and business studies.
Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.
Inside This Issue 🔋 Infinium Will Deploy Electric Hydrogen’s Electrolyzer Plant at Large-scale Efuels Facility in Texas 🌊 EQNR's North Sea Wells Indicate Strong Potential for Carbon Storage 🚢 Firs...
Inside This Issue 🌬️ Occidental and ADNOC’s XRG Agree to Evaluate Joint Venture to Develop South Texas Direct Air Capture Hub 🧪 Carbon Cell Raises £1.2M to Scale Production of Innovative Low-carbo...
Inside This Issue 🏭 Svante Launches World's First Commercial Gigafactory for Carbon Capture & Removal Filters ✈️ Alder Renewables and Bioénergie AECN Announce Project Avance: Unlocking Sustain...
Venture for ClimateTech Unveils Newest Cohort Powering the Future of Clean Tech
Twenty High-Impact Companies Set to Receive up to $50,000 Each and Kick-off Six-Month Program May 20, 2025 09:00 ET | Source: For ClimateTech ROCHESTER, N.Y., May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vent...
The proposed project will bolster energy security and economic prosperity for the local community and serve as a key example of U.S. energy dominance. May 20, 2025 08:00 ET DURHAM, N.C., May 20, 2...
Cool Effect Adds First Direct Air Capture Project to Portfolio Following Rigorous Review
Nonprofit Backs Breakthrough Carbon Removal Solution from US-Based Clairity Technology, Supporting Scale and Integrity in the Growing DAC Market After a comprehensive review, Cool Effect has chose...
Infinium Will Deploy Electric Hydrogen’s Electrolyzer Plant at Large-scale Efuels Facility in Texas
PECOS, Texas, May 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Electric Hydrogen, an American manufacturer of high-power electrolyzer plants, announced today that Infinium, a leading producer of commercial eFuels,...
Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.