Project Description

Carbon Blade, a leader in carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology, is partnering with UC San Diego’s Center for Energy Research (CER) to test an innovative direct air capture (DAC) system. This pilot project aims to validate a low-energy, electrochemical CO₂ removal process in a real-world setting, accelerating its path to commercial deployment. The containerized DAC system draws air from the atmosphere using a specialized electrochemical solvent to selectively capture CO₂. The solvent is then regenerated through an electrolytic separation process, significantly reducing energy consumption compared to traditional methods. The system is being tested at UC San Diego’s Power Islanding and Energy Storage Innovation Facility (ESIF), an advanced large-scale testing site designed for grid-connected energy research and technology validation projects. Researchers from UC San Diego’s Energy Storage Group along with University research students will operate the system, gathering critical data to optimize its performance and efficiency.

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Project Objectives

• Validate Carbon Blade’s DAC Prototype under real-world conditions.
• Measure CO₂ capture efficiency and energy consumption.
• Analyze system scalability for future large-scale deployment.
• Assess the feasibility of converting captured CO₂ into permanent storage solutions.

Results

(As results become available, this section will provide detailed performance data and key takeaways from the demonstration.)

Initial Findings

• CO₂ Capture Efficiency – Tracking how effectively the system captures CO₂ from the air.
• Gaseous CO₂ Purity – Analyzing the purity of the captured carbon for storage applications.
• Energy Consumption – Measuring the kilowatt-hours required per kilogram of CO₂ captured to assess efficiency.
• 24-Hour Capture Rate – Evaluating the total volume of CO₂ removed from the air daily.
• Water Usage – Assessing the amount of make-up water needed for continuous operation.

Next Steps

• Optimizing Chemical Processes – Fine-tuning the CO₂ capture and regeneration cycles to maximize efficiency.
• Scaling Up for Deployment – Evaluating how the system can be expanded for large-scale carbon capture applications.
• Long-Term Performance Testing – Assessing system durability, maintenance needs, and operational costs over time.

By testing real-world performance and scalability, this pilot study is a critical step toward making direct air capture a viable, cost-effective tool in the fight against climate change.