SoCalGas to test DAC tech
Southern California Gas Co (SoCalGas) is supporting research into a technology that not only captures CO2 from the air but also collects water that can be used for irrigation, the company said on November 16.
Testing the technology, known as Isothermal Water Vapor and CO2 Capture, "will provide key insight into its efficiency and operating costs, ultimately determining the cost-effectiveness of its deployment at scale," SoCalGas said.
SoCalGas put forward $650,000 for the project, which has an overall cost of $3.2mn. The project has also received funding from the US department of energy.
The technology was conceived at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Los Angeles-based Avnos is working on commercialising it. It involves a two-stage vacuum swing process, whereby water vapour and CO2 are first attracted and bonded together, and the water is then condensed and the CO2 compressed for transport, for storage or use.
The demonstration-scale system is designed to capture around 80 kg of CO2 and 1,000 litres of water daily. It is due to be completed in 2023.
"By helping jumpstart this technology we aim to help California reach its 100% net-zero goals more affordably, more equitably, and with less risk of power disruptions, customer conversion barriers, and technological limitations," SoCalGas' vice president for clean energy innovations, Neil Navin, said in a statement.