AspiraDAC’s CO2 Extraction Machine to Be Installed in Australia
A-frame structures with solar panels provide energy for the CO2 capture machine. (Photo: AspiraDAC)
AspiraDAC has signed a $700,000 contract with global financial infrastructure company Strip to install the machine this year. They plan to deploy approximately 180 machines to capture and store 500 tons of CO2 by 2027. The first prototype of the machine was developed in collaboration with the University of Sydney.
Technically, the machine is built using sponge-like material produced by the University of Sydney to retain CO2 molecules as air flows across its surface. Fans draw air into a chamber filled with this material. High temperatures are used to filter pure CO2, which is then transported through pipes and stored underground. The solar panels covering the A-frame provide all the energy needed for the machine. AspiraDAC aims to compress, transport, and store CO2 at a cost of under $20 per ton.
AspiraDAC has not disclosed the exact location for deploying the machine or carbon storage, but the company is considering depleted oil and gas reservoirs in Moomba, South Australia. Currently, they are concluding the testing phase of the project and plan to construct the facility by the end of this year.
Although the amount of CO2 captured under the new contract is relatively small, AspiraDAC believes this is a significant step with great potential for growth in Australia.
“Australia’s abundant solar energy makes it the perfect location for DAC. By using solar energy modules, the facility can operate independently of traditional energy sources. Additionally, the compact size of the machine means it can capture CO2 emissions while using less than 90% of the land area required for similar projects,” shared Julian Turecek, CEO of AspiraDAC.
