About AirCarbX
A New Approach to Direct Air Capture
AirCarbX develops E-Biochar, an electrically conductive biochar fibre made from biomass, and modular capture systems built around it. An electric current heats the fibres directly, so captured CO₂ and water are released faster and with less heat loss than with external heating.
The modules can serve a single building or be combined into large plants. The CO₂ can go to permanent storage for carbon removal or be supplied to users, and the recovered water can be used on site.
The challenge
Direct air capture has to grow quickly.
Limiting climate change requires rapid emission cuts and large-scale CO₂ removal. In the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario of the International Energy Agency (IEA), direct air capture (DAC) plants capture more than 85 million tonnes of CO₂ a year by 2030 and almost 1 billion tonnes a year by 2050. Plants operating today capture a small fraction of this.
DAC is still expensive and energy-intensive. Liquid-solvent systems need high-temperature regeneration and large plants, and they lose water through evaporation. Solid sorbents can be slow to regenerate and can degrade with repeated use.
To reach the scale in the IEA scenario, DAC needs to use less energy, water and equipment per tonne of CO₂, and to cost less.
Technology
E-Biochar for a New Generation of DAC
Air passes through cartridges packed with E-Biochar fibres, which capture CO₂ and water vapour. When the fibres are loaded, an electric current heats them to release the CO₂ and water for collection, and the cycle repeats.
The benefits of E-Biochar
Low capture cost
Up to 50% lower capture costs compared with external heating.
Low energy use
50–80% lower regeneration and system energy consumption compared with external heating.
Faster cycles
Cycles are at least 85% shorter than external heating cycles, releasing CO₂ within minutes.
Modular and scalable
Cartridges can be added in parallel to increase capacity.
Carbon and water
The system needs no water supply and recovers 3–5 tonnes of water per tonne of CO₂, with the ratio adjustable within that range.
Biochar microfibres
Biochar fibre yarns
Laboratory capture cartridge
Markets
One capture platform for several markets
The same modular system can remove CO₂ from the atmosphere, supply CO₂ on site and produce water.
Carbon removal
Cartridges combined in parallel form capture plants of the required size, with the CO₂ sent to permanent storage.
HVAC and indoor air
Units fitted to air-handling systems recover CO₂ and water from air that the fans already move. Removing indoor CO₂ also reduces the outside air that must be heated or cooled.
Food, drink and industrial CO₂
Producing CO₂ on site removes the need for deliveries and reduces exposure to supply shortages.
Data centres
Server waste heat can supply part of the regeneration energy, and the recovered water can be used for cooling.
Controlled-environment agriculture
Greenhouses and vertical farms can use the CO₂ to boost crop growth, and the system can help control humidity.
Functional carbon materials
The conductive fibres can also be supplied as a material, for uses such as electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding.
The team behind AirCarbX
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