DAC Technology Report
Processes, State of the Art, Innovative Approaches
PtX Lab Paper | 03/2026 | Topic: DAC | 15 Pages
The PtX Lab paper DAC Technology Report – Processes, State of the Art, Innovative Approaches analyses the current state of the art and technological approaches to direct air capture (DAC) and compares five processes with varying levels of technological readiness (TRL) and energy requirements.
The report highlights that energy requirements are not a weakness of the technology, but are physically determined by the low CO₂ concentration in the air – and thus represent the central framework condition for technical design.
In this context, key challenges arise in scaling, material availability, process stability, and site dependency, while at the same time there is significant potential for optimization in material development, flow design, and operating strategies.
The authors also present a novel, zeolite-based process with heat pump integration that aims for low temperature levels, broad applicability, and good scalability. Despite these energy- and material-related challenges, DAC is classified as a central component of net-zero strategies – both as a CO₂ source for Power-to-X processes and for offsetting unavoidable emissions.
Conclusion: DAC is not a silver bullet, but an indispensable element of an integrated climate-neutral energy system. This requires reliable policy frameworks for market development.
Bibliographic data
- Publication: DAC Technology Report – Processes, State of the Art, Innovative Approaches
- Publication date: March 2026
- Publisher: PtX Lab Lausitz – Think and Do Tank for Fuels and Basic Materials from Green Hydrogen, Calauer Straße 70, 03048 Cottbus
- Suggested citation: PtX Lab Lausitz (2026): DAC Technology Report – Processes, State of the Art, Innovative Approaches
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