Research, Development and Innovation for Direct Air Capture of CO2
Research and development of technologies for capturing CO2 directly from ambient air for permanent storage or utilisation.
Substantial Contribution to Climate Change Mitigation
The research activity must advance Direct Air Capture (DAC) technologies toward commercial viability, targeting improvements in energy efficiency, cost reduction, sorbent or solvent performance, or system integration. The research programme must demonstrate a pathway to achieving a net-negative carbon balance, accounting for all energy inputs and upstream emissions associated with the DAC process.
Research outcomes must target DAC systems that can operate with renewable or low-carbon energy sources and achieve energy consumption below 2,000 kWh of thermal energy and 500 kWh of electrical energy per tonne of CO2 captured. The captured CO2 must be destined for permanent geological storage under Directive 2009/31/EC or for long-duration utilisation pathways where the CO2 remains sequestered for at least 100 years.
Substantial Contribution to Climate Change Adaptation
Where DAC research addresses adaptation co-benefits, such as integration with renewable energy systems for grid balancing or coupling with desalination using waste heat, these must be quantified and documented.
DNSH: Climate Change Adaptation
Research and pilot facilities must be assessed for physical climate risks per Appendix A, particularly heat impacts on sorbent performance, water availability for process cooling, and energy supply reliability under extreme weather conditions.
DNSH: Water and Marine Resources
Water consumption of the DAC process must be minimised and quantified. Research must evaluate water-lean process designs. Pilot operations must not abstract water from stressed sources without sustainability assessment.
DNSH: Circular Economy
Sorbent and solvent lifecycle must be assessed, with research targeting materials that can be regenerated, recycled, or safely disposed of at end of life. Equipment and materials from pilot installations must be recovered where feasible.
DNSH: Pollution Prevention and Control
Emissions from sorbent degradation products, solvent losses, and thermal processes must be characterised and controlled. Pilot operations must comply with applicable environmental permits and air quality standards.