We extend our gratitude to Bryony Collins for her insightful interview with our CEO, Dr. Samer Taha. In this exclusive interview, Dr. Samer Taha reveals Atoco’s groundbreaking approach to developing a cost-effective CO2 capture solution targeting low concentrations.
Atoco’s CEO on Breakthrough CO2 Capture in Carbon Pulse Interview
Developer of low-concentration CO2 capture strives for below $100/t in a decade
A developer of carbon capture technology using a new class of material able to capture CO2 at very low concentrations aims to reach costs of below $100 per tonne in the next decade, thanks to its high energy efficiency and use of low-grade waste heat.
California-based Atoco expects to deploy its first industrial prototypes before the end of next year and is targeting both direct air capture (DAC) and post-combustion carbon capture from large emitters for the rollout of its technology.
Atoco’s solid state carbon material is able to capture CO2 much more efficiently than technologies currently on the market thanks to its large surface area, porous nature, and ability to capture and separate CO2 at relatively low temperatures, said CEO Samer Taha.
“The earlier generation of this material in the market today was scaled up by chemicals firm BASF and can capture CO2 at concentrations of about 15%, whereas our new class of material can capture CO2 at concentrations less than 10%, and even under DAC conditions of CO2 concentrations below 0.04%,” he told Carbon Pulse.
Current atmospheric CO2 concentration is just below 430 ppm, which equates to about 0.04% and is many times lower than the typical 4-9% CO2 concentration in the flue gas of natural gas power plants, said Taha.
Atoco’s technology could be deployed in both scenarios (DAC and post combustion), said Taha, though the first industrial deployments will likely occur at natural gas plants.
The company is currently in discussions with partners to do so on both the US East and West coasts, and would rely on partners for the transport and storage of CO2, he said. (…)