DOE Awards 9 Research Projects to Capture Carbon Emissions Directly from the Air

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced last week that it will provide $24 million in funding for nine Direct Air Capture (DAC) research projects. The projects aim to advance cost-effective carbon capture technologies that promote decarbonization and will help the U.S. reach the Biden administration’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. 
 
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, who spoke to the ASME community during the inaugural ASME Policy Impact event in May, commented on the initiative, stating, “Finding ways to remove and store carbon directly from the air is an absolute necessity in our fight against the climate crisis. This investment in carbon capture technology research through universities and DOE laboratories will position America as a leader in this growing field, create good-paying jobs, and help make our carbon-free future a reality.”
 
Direct Air Capture is a relatively new technology that DOE is looking to explore and develop. The research these nine projects will conduct will help DOE to better understand the limitations of the existing technology and work towards developing innovative solutions for the advancement of DAC technology. For example, one of the drawbacks of current DAC technology is its inefficient energy use. These nine projects will work to specifically address that challenge and come up with more efficient ways to remove carbon dioxide from the air.
 
Although the mission is overarching,  the nine awards each address separate topics, such as the discovery of novel materials, chemistries, and processes for extraction. The projects are led by two national laboratories and seven universities. The full list of projects can be found here.