Direct Air Capture (DAC) is a process with which carbon dioxide (CO2) can be extracted directly from the ambient air. As part of the "Direct Air Capture made in Baden-Württemberg (DAC-BW)" project funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Transport, the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) has intensively promoted the industrialization of DAC technologies over the past two years. In order to translate this directly into added value for Baden-Württemberg, development has been carried out in direct cooperation with companies from the state.
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is involved as a research partner with flow simulations for optimized system design. In the Direct Air Capture process, the ambient air flows through an absorbent that removes some of the carbon dioxide from it. After desorption and concentration,CO2 with a high degree of purity is obtained, which can then be used directly as a raw material for the chemical industry, for example for the synthesis of basic chemicals such as methanol or for the refinery for the production ofCO2-neutral fuels. This is because there are currently no foreseeable commercially available alternatives to the use of carbon-based energy sources, particularly for air traffic and international shipping, which is why these must becomeCO2-neutral in order to meet international climate protection obligations.
