NEG8 Carbon’s Direct Air Capture Technology: Capturing CO₂ to Reach Net-Zero

By: Dr John Breen | Chief Technology Officer of NEG8 Carbon

This is a summary of a presentation given at a GreentechHQ  South East Sustainability Cluster Meet-Up held at SETU.

Climate change is the defining issue of our generation.

The year 2024 set a disturbing precedent, marking the warmest year on record since temperature tracking began in the mid nineteenth century. Moreover, the last decade has been the hottest in recorded human history, with temperatures peaking at 17.16°C on July 22, 2024.

Furthermore, atmospheric CO₂ concentration levels now sit at 426 ppm (parts per million) at the Mauna Loa Observatory – far above the safe threshold of 350 ppm.

The challenge is clear: we must find effective methods to reduce atmospheric CO₂, mitigate the impact of hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation and also remove legacy CO₂ emitted since the Industrial Revolution.

This is where Direct Air Capture (DAC) raises its hand – a disruptive technology that extracts CO₂ directly from the atmosphere to help organisations and governments reach net-zero and reverse climate change.

How Does DAC Technology Work?

DAC systems capture CO₂ directly from the atmosphere. It works by drawing in air and passing it over a specifically designed sorbent system that attracts and captures carbon dioxide (CO₂) molecules. The captured CO₂ can then be permanently and safely stored underground or converted into climate-neutral carbon products, such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
(See: How Does Direct Air Capture Work?)

The DAC Process

DAC + Carbon Storage (DACCS)

Safely and permanently storing the captured CO₂ is as important as capturing it.

Currently, the preferred method of CO₂ sequestration is injecting it into underground rock formations, with rocks such as basalt being ideally suited. The CO₂ can either be pressurised to form a liquid or mixed with water to form a fizzy water before being pumped underground.

These storage sites possess interconnected pores that can absorb CO₂ efficiently while an extensive cap rock prevents leakage. Ideally, the CO₂ reacts with reservoir rocks, undergoing mineralisation to form new minerals, locking it away permanently. Depleted oil and gas wells (underground on land or the sea) are good options for storing CO₂.

The potential for global CO₂ storage is vast, with estimates ranging from 8,000 to 55,000 gigatonnes.

CO₂ Utilization

The NEG8 Carbon DAC process also supports CO₂ utilization, where captured CO₂ is repurposed for use in industries such as food and beverage, chemicals, construction and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production.

Why DAC? The Unmatched Advantages

• The cumulative removal potential of is almost unlimited.
• Large annual rates of removal could be sustained for centuries.
• The land area requirements are small. To remove 1 billion tonnes CO₂ /yr from the atmosphere:
  • DAC: 0.012 million hectares (area of Dublin City)
  • Forestation: 200 million hectares (area of Mexico)
• You can harvest fresh ‘distilled’ water from the atmosphere producing 1 to 2 tonnes of water for every tonne of CO₂ captured.
• DAC can be sited at various locations – including marginal lands – and does not have to be at the source of emissions.
• Measurement of CO₂ capture rates are cheap and simple to implement.
• DAC can provide CO₂ as a feedstock for carbon-to-carbon enterprises.

NEG8 Carbon’s Electrostatic-DAC Technology

NEG8 Carbon has developed a unique Electrostatic-DAC Technology, which captures CO₂ using thin, active sorbent layers on specially formulated surfaces.

This method:

• Operates at a low temperature of 65°C (far below the industry standard of 85-100ºC), enhancing energy efficiency.
• Uses a Vacuum Thermal Swing Adsorption (VTSA) cycle to release captured CO₂ in under 10 minutes.
• Features a simple sorbent flush mechanism for ease of replacement.
• Functions in sub-zero conditions (-32°C), allowing deployment in cold environments.

Operational and Economic Benefits

• Low energy consumption: 1.2 MWh per tonne of CO₂, reducing to 0.4 MWh with waste heat integration.
• Rapid regeneration: Less than 10 minutes, lowering operational costs.
• Extended sorbent lifespan: Over five years due to the low-temperature process.
• Operational expenditure: Targeting €100 (using waste heat integration) to €165 per tonne of CO₂ by 2027.

Global Impact & Advocacy

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report (2022)

In an important declaration, the IPCC recognised Direct Air Capture with Carbon Storage (DACCS) as a necessary Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) strategy. Their 2022 report estimates that limiting warming to 1.5°C will require cumulative DACCS deployment to remove up to 310 billion tonnes of CO₂ between 2020 and 2100. What’s more, DACCS has a mitigation potential of 5-40 billion tonnes of CO₂ per year.

The Climate Challenge – To Secure our Planet for Future Generations

NEG8 Carbon has an ambition to be the “Intel Inside” for Direct Air Capture project developers worldwide, and to sell tens of thousands of adsorber systems capable of efficiently removing 4.5 million tonnes per annum of CO₂ annually by 2040. And going further, the team is committed to negating a minimum of 100 million tonnes of CO₂ annually by 2050.

For more:

• Achieving Net-Zero Carbon Emissions Targets with Direct Air Capture
• Direct Air Capture – A Solution to Data Centre Emissions
• Direct Air Capture Cost Compared to Cost of Inaction on Climate Change

 

Interested in NEG8 Carbon’s CO₂ capture technology?

Contact the NEG8 Carbon Team