A growing roster of technology companies from around the globe are partnering with NETL to unleash direct air capture (DAC) as a powerful tool in the fight to mitigate the climate crisis.

A novel direct air capture (DAC) technology is being developed by Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International with funding and management support provided by NETL on behalf of the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM). Through three collaborative research and development projects, RTI has selected a DAC sorbent material, completed initial testing of their air contactor design, and is now designing an integrated DAC process for field testing.

NETL will help guide the development of new science-based performance metrics, testing methods and standards for direct air capture (DAC) — a critical emerging technology to address climate change by removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and meet the nation’s decarbonization goals.

NETL’s one-of-a-kind Direct Air Capture (DAC) Center has commenced material-scale operations and is eager to expand partnerships with innovators from government, academia and the private sector that are interested in commercializing DAC technology, helping to meet the Administration’s goals of addressing legacy carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and achieving a net-zero emissions future by 2050.

Researcher Dave Luebke doesn’t have to search far for inspiration as he works to develop the NETL Direct Air Capture (DAC) Center. It’s waiting for him when he gets home at the end of the day.

An NETL researcher overseeing construction of the Lab’s Direct Air Capture (DAC) Center recently met with industry and scientific leaders in Switzerland to discuss accelerating the commercialization of critical technologies for removal of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and NETL are developing the next generation of advanced carbon dioxide (CO2) capture concepts to support the United States in achieving ambitious goals for a greenhouse gas (GHG)-neutral economy by 2050, a carbon-free power sector by 2035 and a 50% reduction from 2005 levels in economy-wide net GHG pollution by 2030.

Hannah Sieger, NETL’s contracting officer representative (COR) for the upcoming Direct Air Capture (DAC) Center, grew up watching as evidence and effects of climate change mounted, and today she stands ready to support the Lab as it works to address this challenge. The testing and development of DAC technologies is an essential component of achieving a low-carbon economy and a tool to help mitigate some of the environmental issues the nation is facing.

NETL experts took part in the recent Global Direct Air Capture Conference, a two-day event that brought together global leaders and innovators who are working to develop direct air capture (DAC) as a robust, cost-effective and environmentally just technology to remove greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.

David Luebke, technical director of NETL’s Direct Air Capture (DAC) Center, will discuss the Lab’s efforts to accelerate the commercialization of DAC technologies during a presentation Wednesday, Aug. 16, at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Francisco, California.