"We want to move away from the transport of liquid CO₂ and instead work toward a decentralized, more sustainable CO₂ delivery model. Traditional CO₂ sources are often energy-intensive, produced from fossil sources, costly, and prone to significant price fluctuations, adding pressure to the horticulture industry," says Jarle Skjaeveland, Business developer at GreenCap Solutions, a Norwegian developer of Carbon dioxide removal solutions.
The GreenCap team
A three-step process
To do so, Greencap has developed a solution that provides a clean, closed-loop CO₂ system that's as adaptable as it is environmentally friendly. A naturally formed rock called zeolites is used to capture CO2 directly from the air in a three-step process. First, incoming air undergoes pre-treatment: humidity is removed using a large, slow-moving silica gel-coated enthalpy wheel. This step minimizes energy use by drying the air before it reaches the capture unit. The air is then pre-cooled to around -20°C, creating an ideal low-energy environment where CO₂ binds more efficiently to the zeolite material.
"Our system keeps energy use low, which is a key achievement," Jarle explains. "Using components like zeolite and silica gel helped us to create a closed-loop system that's efficient and environmentally friendly." The system's flexibility means it can provide 100 to 200 tons of CO₂ per hectare, allowing greenhouse and vertical farm operators to adjust the setup according to their needs.
GreenCap's trial facility
Energy efficiency
Energy use is often a limiting factor in CO₂ capture systems, Jarle points out. To avoid rising costs, GreenCap's approach reduces waste by using energy-saving features at various stages in the process. By using heat-capture and cold-swap techniques, the system reuses thermal energy to maintain optimal CO₂ absorption and release rates. "We realized early on that keeping this process energy-efficient was essential. We focus on a smart flow that reuses both warm and cold air to avoid additional heating or cooling."
The result is a system that use low-energy, as outgoing air differs by less than 1°C from the incoming air, demonstrating how GreenCap has minimized the energy load. "We use less than 1 degree of energy difference between input and output, ensuring that every step is optimized for sustainability," adds Jarle.
A picture with one of our operators inside the DAC Z50 demonstrator plant
Benefits of closed windows
For greenhouse operators, this efficient use of CO₂ has immediate benefits. Since closed-window systems are more efficient, growers reduce their CO₂ needs by up to 70% compared to open systems. "Closing the windows and using our Environmental Control System (ECS) means growers can reduce dependency on CO₂ suppliers and lower their energy bills," says Jarle.
Additionally, the stackable design of the capture modules allows growers to increase capacity as needed, offering flexibility without compromising efficiency. For instance, a grower needing 200 tons per hectare can easily stack modules to match their specific requirements.
DAC Z50 module
Appliances beyond horticulture
While horticulture was GreenCap's beachhead market, the company's CO₂ capture technology has drawn attention from other sectors, including battery manufacturing, which demands clean CO₂ for efficient production. GreenCap's system is also of interest in Norway, where large CO₂ capture initiatives aim to ship and store CO₂ emissions permanently. "Battery facilities are particularly keen on our technology since CO₂-free air positively affects battery efficiency," Jarle explains.
For GreenCap, scaling its technology to meet these growing demands will require industrial partnerships. "We're working on establishing standardized, serially-produced units that can serve various industries, so scalability is our next focus. Our technology is robust and flexible enough to be a valuable solution across different sectors."
Localized CO₂ farm hubs
As GreenCap looks to the future, the concept of CO₂ farm hubs stands out as a promising solution for localized delivery. These hubs would support nearby greenhouses through shared pipelines, minimizing the need for separate installations. "Imagine a CO₂ farm hub where multiple growers can tap into a centralized system, this could completely transform CO₂ delivery for local growers. We're at an exciting stage, ready to spread the word on our technology and deliver sustainable solutions where they're needed most," Jarle confirms.
GreenCap has been running trials with NIBIO, one of Norway's largest research institutes, testing the system in a controlled environment. Stay tuned for an upcoming article.
For more information:
GreenCap Solutions
Jarle Skjaeveland, Co-founder and Business developer
[email protected]
https://greencap-solutions.com