Understanding our revolutionary carbon capture technology and sustainable CO2 solution
- What is the difference between your point source capture solution and other similar solutions?
Point source capture has been used on fossil fuel, ethanol, and ammonia plants for some time. These processes either capture CO2 to re-use in oil production (Enhanced Oil Recovery) or to sell the CO2 to the food and beverage markets (e.g. to carbonate beverages).
Building Carbon Capture is unique in the point source capture space in its goal to reduce emissions from buildings and co-gen systems. We track and verify our process and transportation emissions, selling Sustainable CO2™, and find partners that remove the CO2 permanently or use it to displace petroleum.
- What is the difference between your building capture solution and other building decarbonization solutions?
Building Carbon Capture™ works well alongside many other solutions in a building. The UNFPCC and the Paris Climate Accord’s goals are to reduce emissions from all sectors, including buildings. Building Carbon Capture™ is just one pathway to doing so, and is particularly well suited to address emissions from heating. It integrates well with energy management, energy efficiency, onsite renewables, beneficial electrification and other technologies. Given that the built environment generates 40% of total global emissions (with construction and materials), we need all technologies on deck as quickly as possible.
- What does Sustainable CO2 mean?
Our CO2 is uniquely positioned for those who want to use CO2 for environmental benefit. The merchant market for CO2 is a “black box”when it comes to where it is sourced and how, the emissions created during its transport, etc. On the other hand, our Sustainable CO2™ is:
- Re-used from a building (i.e. not generated specifically for the market)
- Lower carbon intensity than most other sources
- Fully accounted – we account for our process and transport emissions
- Trackable as it is captured via a cloud-connected app
- Once you’ve captured the CO2, what do you plan to do with it? What are the pathways available and do they truly help climate change?
The CO2 conversion and utilization market is rapidly growing. Clean fuels that use CO2 instead of fossil for airlines and chemical processes, mineralization of CO2 in concrete and CO2 sequestration in the ground are all contributing to this new market. We plan to have partnerships across the spectrum to recycle or sequester our CO2 for environmental benefit.
- I’d like to purchase your CO2. What are the costs and/or other benefits?
The Building Carbon Capture CO2 is a local and sustainable source of CO2 we call “SustainableCO2™”. It has a lower carbon intensity than other sources of CO2 and supports a local circular carbon economy. We have flexible pricing options depending on the quantities and term of sale. Contact our sales team for more information.
- I’m thinking about purchasing CO2 from CarbonQuest. What are the purity, transportation, and delivery options that you provide?
Our SustainableCO2™ meets ISBT beverage grade quality.
We work with our logistics partners to coordinate transportation and delivery directly to your site. As we move into new markets, we are developing new corridors of Sustainable CO2™ delivery. For additional information, reach out to our sales team.
- I am in the CO2 utilization, conversion or sequestration business. Is there any validation of your capture process/your CO2?
We track the CO2 during capture, liquefaction and transportation to the customer. Additionally, we engage 3rd parties for verification and annual reporting of the amounts of CO2 captured. We can also help customers become carbon market ready with our CO2 and their conversion process. Contact us for more details.
- Will this technology work in my building?
Building Carbon Capture will work in any building of any type that uses natural gas.
- How much of my building's CO2 emissions can CarbonQuest's technology capture on site?
A system can be sized to capture up to 100% of the CO2 before it gets emitted into the atmosphere. Our systems are modular, allowing us to size according to the building’s needs and physical space requirements.
- What will it cost me to install a CarbonQuest product in my building?
The cost ranges, depending on the size & emissions profile of the building. Project costs are typically paid back in 4-6 years, through regulatory programs, carbon credits and CO2 sales– with even shorter paybacks for larger systems. Contact our sales team to learn more.
- Does installing a Building Carbon Capture system have an impact on my building operations?
Building Carbon Capture works by passively drawing off the flue gas for processing. We do not impact any operations of existing boilers, chillers, or CHP plants and there is no noise or other disruption to tenants. The systems can operate completely independently of each other. The system is Authority Having Jurisdiction approved for safe integration into the built environment.
- I keep hearing about electrification of buildings. What is the role of carbon capture vs electrification?
It is not either/or. The ultimate goal is to reduce emissions from buildings to stave off climate change. Buildings have several options to reduce electricity use via energy efficiency and energy management, and they should all strive to do so. However, reducing emissions from heating is a particular challenge. Building Carbon Capture can provide a cost-effective means of providing immediate reductions while the grid, over time, becomes greener.
- What if we don’t have regulatory programs? Can Carbon Credits or other options be alternatives?
In markets where regulatory programs do not exist or may be insufficient to support the economics of the project, Carbon Credit markets and federal incentives can be used to support a project business case, as can some local incentives. If you’d like more information on a specific market or opportunity, contact our sales team to see what other options are available.
- Supply chain issues are everywhere. What is the lead time for your technology? And what if I want to capture more CO2 later?
From order to install, current systems take 9-12 months. However, as supply chains improve and we refine our process, we plan to shorten the delivery time for smaller systems to under 7 months. While we are waiting on equipment lead times, we ensure that project engineering, permitting and construction are taking place so the building is fully ready for installation of the Carbon Capture System once it is built.
- I am interested, what do I do next?
CarbonQuest provides turnkey solutions and integrates them with other solutions in your building. We provide a 10 year worry-free operations and maintenance contract on the system.
Contact us to discuss your site(s). We will survey basic information about your site and do a site walkthrough.
- How much of my building's CO2 emissions will CarbonQuest's technology capture on site?
CarbonQuest technology is able to capture up to 100% of the CO2 that passes through a building’s flue; our systems are modular, allowing us to customize the size of the device according to the building’s needs and physical space requirements to avoid the most CO2 emissions.
- What will it cost me to install and maintain CarbonQuest technology in my building?
Because every CarbonQuest system is custom-built, the costs vary from building to building. Please reach out to our team to learn more about the cost-effective solution that’s right for your building.
- How much space will I need to integrate this solution in my building?
Each site is assessed individually for physical space availability in the basement/garage, on the roof or in outdoor enclosures. A typical building system takes up approximately 3 parking spots, while co-gen applications require more room. Given the modular nature of the components, we can find a solution for almost all buildings and facilities.
- How does CarbonQuest's solution differ from direct air capture (DAC)?
Direct Air Capture aims to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and sequester it.
Building Carbon Capture is “point source capture” – it prevents CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere by capturing it before it leaves the building. The carbon is then permanently removed from circulation by injecting it into concrete during the manufacturing process or using as a petroleum-displacement product in chemical production. It can also be sequestered underground, just like the CO2 captured from the air.
Currently, DAC technologies are significantly more expensive than point source capture.