DACLab Introduces Energy-Efficient Direct Air Capture Technology
Despite global commitments to reduce carbon emissions, atmospheric CO2 levels reached record highs last year, underscoring the challenge of mitigating climate change. Direct air capture (DAC) technology, which extracts CO2 directly from the atmosphere, is a promising but energy-intensive solution. Industry estimates suggest that capturing one metric ton of CO2 typically requires about 2,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy once technologies are fully developed and scaled.
Emerging from stealth after four years of development, startup DACLab claims it has lowered this energy requirement to approximately 1,500 kWh per metric ton. The company revealed this data exclusively to TechCrunch alongside the announcement of its $3 million seed funding round, led by early Discord investor Peter Relan, with participation from Silver Lake co-founder Dave Roux, WovenEarth Ventures founder Jane Woodward, and others.
Innovative Process Design Reduces Energy Demand
Most DAC systems use solid sorbents that capture CO2 as air passes over them, then release the concentrated CO2 through an energy-intensive heating process, typically between 80°C and 120°C. DACLab diverges from the common integrated design by separating the capture and release phases into distinct units. This bifurcated approach, more common in industrial point-source carbon capture, reduces the regeneration heat requirement to around 70°C, improving energy efficiency.
This technology traces its roots to research conducted at TU Wien in Austria, where a partnership with Shell developed a point-source carbon capture unit that operated for nearly three years, marking Austria’s largest such facility at the time. DACLab adapted this industrial design for atmospheric CO2 capture.
Scaling Up and Market Prospects
Currently, DACLab has constructed two pilot units capable of capturing 100 metric tons of CO2 annually. The company plans to deploy a 1,000 metric ton unit in Washington state and a 5,000 metric ton unit in Kenya. The 100-metric ton units are priced below $500,000, positioning DACLab competitively in the emerging carbon capture market.
The startup targets customers including oil and gas companies, carbon project developers, and producers of sustainable aviation fuels. CEO Aditya Bhandari emphasized realistic expectations, stating, “We’re not going to be one of those direct air capture companies that promise you that we are going to reach $100 per [metric] ton today.” Instead, DACLab aims to advance the industry with transparent milestones and achievable targets.
Looking ahead, DACLab intends to reduce energy consumption to below 1,000 kWh per metric ton, which could enable carbon capture costs around $250 per ton, a significant improvement over current estimates.
Conclusion
While DACLab’s claims require independent verification, its approach to lowering energy consumption and modularizing capture and release processes represents a potentially important advancement in direct air capture technology. As the company scales operations and refines its technology, it will be critical to monitor actual energy use, cost metrics, and deployment outcomes.
FinOracleAI — Market View
DACLab’s announcement of a lower-energy direct air capture method and recent funding round signals positive momentum for the carbon capture sector. Reduced energy consumption directly correlates with lower operational costs and improved scalability, addressing a key barrier for DAC commercialization. Risks remain around technology validation at scale and competitive responses from established players. Investors and industry watchers should track upcoming pilot deployments and energy consumption data to assess DACLab’s progress toward cost targets.
Impact: positive
