Carbon Clean completes first industrial deployment of its modular carbon capture technology

Carbon Clean has announced the completion of the first industrial deployment of its CycloneCC technology. The CycloneCC unit, boasting a compact modular design, has successfully operated for approximately 4,000 hours over a six-month period, achieving Technology Readiness Level 7 (TRL 7). This milestone underscores the unit’s capability to deliver high-purity CO2, surpassing initial targets and meeting Fertiglobe’s stringent purity requirements.

The deployment took place at Fertiglobe’s nitrogen fertilizer plant in the Al Ruwais Industrial Complex, Abu Dhabi. The CycloneCC unit was installed in less than a week—a record time for the carbon capture industry. The captured CO2 has been utilized in urea production, highlighting the practical applications of captured carbon in industrial processes.

CycloneCC represents a significant innovation in carbon capture technology. It uses rotating packed beds (RPBs) and a proprietary amine-promoted buffer salt, APBS-CDRMax solvent, to enhance the efficiency of the capture process. This process intensification approach not only reduces the size of mass transfer equipment required but also cuts the overall footprint of the installation by up to 50%.

Aniruddha Sharma, Chair and CEO of Carbon Clean, emphasized the importance of the project, stating, “Our collaboration with Fertiglobe for this industrial demonstration unit is a major step towards full commercialization of CycloneCC, enabling its deployment at a global scale. The ability to install a carbon capture plant in less than a week is a groundbreaking achievement that demonstrates our innovative approach to modular design in carbon capture technology.”

The project also incorporated advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies developed by Carbon Clean, which have increased the reliability and performance of the plant. The AI systems provided operational recommendations, which were implemented by human operators, ensuring optimal performance of the unit.

Ahmed El-Hoshy, CEO of Fertiglobe, commented on the collaboration: “At Fertiglobe, we prioritize sustainability and the adoption of innovative technologies that contribute to our decarbonization goals. This project not only supports our commitment to advancing low-carbon solutions but also demonstrates our role as a leader in sustainable industrial practices.”