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2016: From C02 to Fuel
Capturing carbon dioxide to keep it out of the atmosphere is a promising strategy for combating climate change, but C02 has little value. Unless new carbon policies change the equation, industry won’t bet on the carbon capture market. This team is building an ultracompact reactor powered by the sun that converts C02 to higher-value methanol. This easily scalable technology is a three-way win: it runs on solar, captures C02, and yields a valuable liquid fuel. The researchers are partnering with local clean energy entrepreneurs to develop green methanol for commercialization.
Investigators: David Erickson, Tobias Hanrath