SDG Connect | Sasol Challenge: DAC to the Future
Sasol was looking for innovative, cost-effective DAC technologies that would enable the implementation of DAC and integration into the feedstock value chain at their Secunda facilities.
Challenge Launch: January 2023
Driving a Net-Zero Future with Direct Air Capture
As one of the biggest drivers of climate change, GHG emissions pose a significant challenge. Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology offers a promising solution by capturing CO2 directly from the atmosphere, positioning itself as a critical component in achieving a net-zero future.
To discover innovative DAC solutions and meet their ambitious climate goals, South Africa’s Sasol, a global chemicals and energy company, sought cost-effective DAC technologies that could be integrated into the feedstock value chain in their operations.
Read more about this Challenge below.
Desired Outcomes & Opportunities
Sasol has significant experience in CO2 point source capture, handling of chemicals (including hydrogen), and integration of processes. However, Sasol does not have proprietary DAC processes, and would therefore need to form strategic partnerships with companies that offer licensing of such processes.
Sasol’s operating facilities offer excellent breeding grounds for studying the integration aspects of emerging cost-effective DAC technologies. Sasol’s vast experience in the field of process engineering, integration of processes into complex facilities, and handling a multitude of chemicals and processing facilities can offer insight into the challenges of integrating a DAC process into a (petro)chemical complex and will enable optimization of all aspects of such an integrated complex.
The winner had the chance for a 1:1 scoping call with Sasol to explore further opportunities.
Desired Challenge outcomes:
- Integrating into Sasol’s Secunda complex;
- Offering integration of captured CO2 into the feedstock value chain to produce sustainably sourced carbon products like green chemicals, green petrol/diesel, and Sustainable Aviation Fuel;
- Cost-effectiveness; and.
- Ideally, capture CO2 from both the air and point sources.
Solution & Winner
After a rigorous review process of several compelling submissions, Gaia Refinery was selected as the winner. They aim to improve DAC efficiencies, while meeting Sasol's requirements.
At full scale, Gaia Refinery estimates that their solution could extract 3.4 million tonnes of CO2 annually (the equivalent of removing almost 740,000 vehicles from the road per year) from Sasol’s Secunda facility’s GHG emissions, in conjunction with some coal feedstock replacement and CO2 sequestration.
As for next steps, Gaia Refinery will have a 1:1 scoping call with Sasol to explore further opportunities to integrate their solution and help achieve Sasol’s goal of ‘Innovating for a better world.
DAC technology plays an important and growing role in net zero pathways. Gaia’s proprietary technology is a cost effective solution that creates a synergy between DAC and co-firing power.
We understand that each incremental action taken today will get us to net zero faster. This Challenge presented a timely opportunity to show how our innovation moves us ever closer to a green and sustainable future.
The Partner
Sasol is a global supplier to a wide variety of industries, comprised of three distinct market-focused businesses: chemicals, energy, and Sasol ecoFT. Their portfolio is underpinned by a transition to a lower-carbon future. Through proprietary technologies and processes, the main products Sasol produces are fuel components, chemical components, and co-products for a number of applications.
Sasol has a proven track record in developing, commercializing, and integrating new technologies into existing value chains. Its existing, well-established research and technology facility in Sasolburg, South Africa is earmarked to serve as a center of excellence for technology demonstration through international collaborations, knowledge, and skills development. It will showcase the integration of emerging technologies like DAC into complex industrial operations–an essential first step for the decarbonization of several South African industries–enabling Sasol to meet its net zero by 2050 commitments.
Technology and innovation has defined Sasol’s success in the past seven decades and we are excited about leveraging our heritage and expertise in advancing sustainable energy technologies.
This development is a promising step towards further exploring direct air capture as a promising decarbonisation pathway of our operations and removing carbon from the atmosphere.
Challenge Background & Considerations
Sasol’s ecoFT offers Power-to-X (PtX) licenses, exemplifying their commitment to innovation for a better world. This challenge presents a unique opportunity to integrate Direct Air Capture (DAC) technologies into PtX plants.
Developing a DAC technology that captures CO2 both from the air and point sources could lead to more cost-effective integration into (petro)chemical complexes compared to two standalone processes. However, no research has yet focused on this specific application. Achieving this integration would significantly benefit both the environment and plant operators. Successful solutions should have taken the following into consideration:
1
Point Source and DAC
The solution should be able to efficiently capture CO2 not only from air, but also from a point source.
2
Strategic Partnership Potential
Sasol will not develop its own proprietary DAC and point source CO2 capture technologies but will rather form strategic partnerships. This applies to both existing facilities and potential future licenses that will be held by ecoFT.
3
Integration into the Feedstock Value Chain
There are no suitable sequestration locations in the Secunda area, therefore carbon will need to be fed into the feedstock value chain.
4
Sustainable Power Source
South Africa’s main electrical power supplier relies mainly on coal as a feedstock. Electricity from sustainable sources are slowly being phased in. However, to enable harnessing the full benefit of DAC it may be required to include a dedicated sustainable electricity supply in the proposed project plan and costing estimates.
5
Proprietary FT Technology
Sasol will continue to use its proprietary FT technology to produce its final products. Integration of the captured carbon into the feedstock value chain needs to take this into consideration, as it may be necessary to convert the captured CO2 to a more appropriate molecule for these purposes.
The SDG Connect program supports the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs addressed by this Challenge are:
- Decent work and Economic Growth (SDG 8)
- Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)
- Climate Change (SDG 13)
- Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)
Eligibility:
The SDG Connect program supports the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs addressed by this Challenge are:
- TRL 6+: Late level 5 readiness will only be considered if achieving TRL6 is imminent.
- Canadian: Solution provider must be a Canadian-owned company or have primary operations in Canada.
- Cost-competitiveness: Current DAC costs are high, therefore cost-effectiveness will be judged based on the potential and predicted timelines to achieve a process cost of no more than $100 USD/ton CO2 captured (post-2030 and beyond cost target).
- Integration: Ability to integrate into new and existing facilities.
Updates
April 2024: Pilot Discussions
Gaia had a in-depth technical review with Salsol's team to understand feedstocks high in acetic acid for the development of Gaia's pilot project set to run in Q4 of. 2024. These conversations helped to develop Gaia's use case and build an Life Cycle Assessment model.
March 2023: Winners Announced
After a rigorous review process of several compelling submissions, Gaia Refinery was selected as the winner.
As for next steps, Gaia Refinery will have a 1:1 scoping call with Sasol to explore further opportunities to integrate their solution and help achieve Sasol’s goal of ‘Innovating for a better world.
January 2023: Challenge Launches
Direct Air Capture technologies have enormous potential to create a sustainable, livable future on our planet.
It is exciting to facilitate Challenges like this that directly connect major companies like Sasol with made-in-Canada cleantech solutions that will drastically reduce GHG emissions and help meet aggressive net zero targets.
Our Partners
This SDG Connect Challenge is supported by the Trade Commissioner Service of Canada and is presented as a part of the carbonNEXT program, a partnership between Foresight and Carbon Management Canada, powered by Scotiabank and Prairies Economic Development Canada.
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