Los Angeles, CA – In a bold move to address the urgent need for effective carbon capture and storage solutions, climate tech startup PlanetWEST has announced the successful testing of their revolutionary micro-Direct Air Capture (microDAC) unit, the MIDAC-G2 (pat.pend.). This innovative technology targets Black Carbon (BC) microparticles directly from the air, bypassing the high energy consumption and exorbitant costs associated with traditional Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects.
With over $60 billion spent on CCS over the past five decades, the industry has faced criticism for its lack of success. The “energy paradox” of CCS, where the equipment used to capture gaseous carbon emissions often emits significant carbon itself, has been a major hurdle. PlanetWEST’s Solid Carbon Capture (SCC) technology offers a solution by focusing on Black Carbon, the second most potent driver of global warming, which is heavily concentrated in urban areas where 70% of global greenhouse emissions originate.
The MIDAC-G2 offers a number of advantages over traditional CCS methods. It seamlessly integrates onto a vehicle’s cooling radiator, utilizing the car’s natural airflow to filter air without the need for additional high-energy fans. The captured solid carbon is then stored in an onboard container, which can be pumped out at the same time as fuel is pumped in, transforming existing gas stations into “Carbon Hubs”. The unit is also cost-efficient, with an estimated capture cost of less than $30 per ton, and affordable, with a price similar to a catalytic converter and easy retrofitting to most modern vehicles.
According to the PlanetWEST Engineering Team, “The world is ramping up renewables, but we need a bridge that works today. By capturing solid particles at the source of urban density, we are offering a faster, cheaper path to cooling the planet.”
Based in California, PlanetWEST is dedicated to providing scalable, low-cost carbon removal solutions. By focusing on Solid Carbon Capture and “Micro-CCS” technology, the company is working towards cleaning urban environments and accelerating the path to net-zero.
In a world where the need for effective carbon capture and storage solutions is becoming increasingly urgent, PlanetWEST’s innovative technology offers a promising solution. With the successful testing of their MIDAC-G2 unit, the company is poised to make a significant impact in the fight against climate change.
