New Invention Turns CO2 from Air into Fuel
A new technology from the startup SpiralWave can capture CO2 from the atmosphere and turn it into methanol—a greener alternative to traditional fuels.
Could a mysterious, plasma-filled column help combat climate change? Startup SpiralWave certainly hopes so. They have developed an innovative technology that uses plasma to extract CO2 from the air and convert it into methanol. Methanol can be used as fuel, emitting 95% less CO2 than conventional fossil fuels.
The technology was recently showcased at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024, drawing significant attention. The tall, transparent column is illuminated by small plasma spheres that move through it, gradually breaking down CO2 molecules. Each plasma pulse splits molecules, transforming them into methanol, explains CEO and co-founder Abed Bukhari.
How Does It Work?
The plasma in SpiralWave’s column is generated using three separate microwave signals. Each pulse breaks specific molecular bonds. First, CO2 is split into CO. Next, water molecules (H2O) are broken into H and OH, and finally, the components are recombined to form methanol.
The system consumes about 10,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity to produce one ton of methanol from atmospheric CO2. However, with higher concentrations of CO2, energy consumption can drop to 7,000 kilowatt-hours.
An Ambitious Founder with Big Plans
While the technology is still in its early stages, Bukhari has bold ambitions. He envisions building a column over 90 meters tall, capable of removing up to one gigaton of CO2 annually. For context, the world needs to remove 10 gigatons of CO2 annually to effectively combat climate change.
If succeeds in scaling the technology, it could become a critical tool in the fight against climate change. By pulling CO2 from the air, producing green fuel, and running on renewable energy, the technology offers a vision that could—quite literally—transform the air around us.
