Direct Air Capture (DAC) is one of the key technologies for the active removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere. The captured CO₂ can either be stored permanently (CCS) or used as a feedstock for synthetic fuels and chemical products (CCU). To meet climate targets, CO₂ capture capacities on a gigatonne scale will be required worldwide by 2050. At the same time, DAC technologies are currently still in the early stages of industrialisation and offer considerable potential for the mechanical and plant engineering sectors, as well as for Baden-Württemberg as a technology hub.
The Baden-Württemberg Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW) is developing a liquid-based DAC technology for this purpose, using polyethyleneimine (PEI) as the sorbent. The process is characterised by good scalability, high CO₂ purity (> 99.5% by volume) and the ability to utilise industrial waste heat in the temperature range of 80–100 °C. The liquid-based process also allows for flexible operating modes and seamless integration into existing industrial estates.
The DACScale project focuses on the further development and scaling up of the existing technology. The aim is, in particular, to reduce thermal energy requirements and improve water management in order to make future operations more energy-efficient, cost-effective and location-independent. To this end, the existing test benches and test infrastructure of the DACLab test platform at ZSW will be used specifically for the further development of the process and, where necessary, expanded to include additional components and testing capabilities. In parallel, components and technologies will be further developed in collaboration with industrial partners from Baden-Württemberg and integrated into an existing DAC demonstration plant with a capture capacity of approximately 100 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
In addition, potential industrial sites are to be identified and assessed at the state level in order to be able to launch pilot projects for DAC technologies in Baden-Württemberg and beyond at an early stage.
The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Skilled Trades and Tourism is funding the project with around €1.6 million until March 2028 as part of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).