Key Performance Metrics
Gigaton CO2's technologies demonstrate exceptional performance across key parameters, making them viable solutions for practical decarbonization at scale.
System Size
- Direct Water Capture: Footprint of approximately 0.01 km² (10,000 m²) for a 1 million tonne/year system, with potential for reduction to 0.001 km² (1,000 m²) in optimized applications.
- Fossil Fuel Capture: 65% smaller footprint than equivalent amine-based systems, enabling installation in space-constrained environments like vessel engine rooms or offshore platforms.
- CO2 Battery: Utilizes existing pipeline infrastructure, minimizing additional land requirements.
Capital Expenditure (CAPEX)
- Direct Water Capture: Estimated below $5 per tonne generated over a 20-year field life for a typical 1 million tonne/year system.
- Fossil Fuel Capture: Modular design allows customers to select appropriate capacity for their needs, with scaled manufacturing reducing unit costs.
- CO2 Battery: Leverages existing infrastructure (pipelines, salt caverns), significantly reducing capital requirements compared to new-build energy storage systems.
Operational Expenditure (OPEX)
- Direct Water Capture: Initial cost range of $200 – 500 per tonne CO2, with pathway to below $100 per tonne and potential for $25 – 50 per tonne in optimized systems.
- Fossil Fuel Capture: Energy consumption of <200 kWh per tonne CO2, reducing operational costs by 60-70% compared to conventional amine systems (400 – 1200 kWh/tonne).
- CO2 Battery: Operational efficiency of 60-80%, comparable to hydroelectric (70 – 85%) and lithium-ion batteries (75 – 94%).
Capture Efficiency
- Direct Water Capture: Typical yield of 100 tonnes CO2 per billion liters of water processed, with enhanced rates for high-carbonate water sources.
- Fossil Fuel Capture: 85 – 95% capture efficiency across variable operating conditions, producing 95 – 99% pure CO2 output suitable for utilization or storage.
- CO2 Battery: Energy density of 60 – 93 kWh/m³, with 22 kWh/m³ available in the optimal 58 – 56 bar pressure range.
Environmental Impact
- Carbon Footprint: Combined CAPEX and OPEX footprint of approximately 10 – 15% of capture rates, with pathway to below 5% through system optimization.
- Land Use: Minimal land requirements, with offshore and subsea options having negligible surface footprint.
- Water Impact: Direct Water Capture improves ocean pH, mitigating acidification while removing CO2.
- Material Efficiency: Designs minimize concrete and steel requirements, reducing embodied carbon.
Power Requirements
- Direct Water Capture: Approximately £20 per tonne CO2 for water movement energy costs, with potential for integration with existing water flows to reduce this further.
- Fossil Fuel Capture: <200 kWh per tonne CO2, maintaining vessel efficiency or industrial operations without prohibitive energy penalties.
- CO2 Battery: Compression powered by renewables during excess generation periods, with thermal benefits (heat from compression, cooling from decompression) offering additional efficiency opportunities.
Deployment Flexibility
All three technologies offer exceptional deployment flexibility:
- Geographical Range: From tropical to arctic environments
- Scale Options: From small (thousands of tonnes) to massive (millions of tonnes)
- Integration Capabilities: Compatible with existing industrial, maritime, and energy infrastructure
- Power Sources: Operable with grid electricity, renewables, waste heat, or natural forces
