Participants

Aaron Silas Jajjawi, PhD Student

Academic Background:

Bachelor of Science in "Environmental Engineering" (RWTH Aachen University)

Master of Science in "Environmental Engineering" with a focus on "Environmental Process Engineering" (RWTH Aachen University)

Ongoing PhD (Forschungszentrum Jülich)

Dissertation Topic:

Location-Based System Solutions for CO2 Capture from the Air Using Adsorption Technology

Fascination and Motivation:

"Next to emission mitigation measures, negative emission technologies (NETs) will play a vital role in combating climate change. Among the different NETs, DAC is promising in terms of its efficiency and scalability. The complex nature of the adsorption process provides ample room for creative ideas regarding the design of the process."

Amirali Salehi, PhD Student

Constanze Baust, PhD Student

Emil Pashayev, PhD Student

Henrik Wenzel, PhD Student

Jan Gutsch, PhD Student

Kenneth Okosun, PhD Student

Lavinia Reitz, PhD Student

Academic Background:

Bachelor of Science in "Physics" (University of Bonn)

Master of Science in "Physics" with a focus on researching Airborne Wind Energy resource potentials in Europe (University of Bonn)

Ongoing PhD (Forschungszentrum Jülich)

Dissertation Topic:

Prospective Life Cycle and Sustainability Assessment of Emerging Direct Air Capture Technologies coupled with Underground CO2 Storage

Dissertation Summary:

Negative carbon emissions are an integral part of the future pathways limiting global warming to 2 °C outlined by the IPCC. Using Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology to capture CO2 from ambient air combined with permanent CO2 Storage (DACS) promises net negative CO2 emissions and thus a direct and measurable climate benefit. The IPCC foresees a potential to remove up to 339 Gt CO2 between 2020 and 2100 via DACS. Currently, pilot facilities around the world remove CO2 at kilo tonne scale every year and there is a significant challenge in scaling-up. Rigorous carbon accounting of any pilot facility is necessary to confirm its carbon credits. In addition, shifting the climate burdens to other environmental areas must be avoided, which can be quantified by applying Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. More holistic sustainability assessments consider the economic and social perspective in addition to the environmental perspective of LCA. However, comprehensive LCAs and, in broader context, sustainability assessments of various DAC technologies as well as a future perspective are rarely found in the small number of current assessments. Consequently, this PhD includes environmental, social and economic points of view in so-called Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) to evaluate the sustainability of future DACS systems.

Fascination and Motivation:

"We need sustainable solutions to the problems we are facing, not only – but especially – when concerning climate change mitigation. LCA and LCSA research can steer the much needed technology development in a sustainable direction. The impact we can have with this research in the long-term is mind-blowing to me – and a constant motivation to do it, and do it right."

Liang Liang, PhD Student

Lutong Lu, PhD Student

Patrick Behr, PhD Student

Phillip Kahl, PhD Student

Robin Koch, PhD Student

Simon Spiegel, PhD Student

Tamino Bosse, PhD Student

Academic Background:

Abitur, Berlin

Bachelor of Science in "Chemistry" with a focus on inorganic chemistry, synthesis and catalysis chemistry to activate and convert CO₂ (Humboldt-University Berlin)

Master of Science in "Chemistry" with a focus on materials science in the field of batteries (Humboldt-University Berlin)

Ongoing PhD (Humboldt-University Berlin)

Dissertation Topic:

Mechanistic Investigations of the electrochemically mediated amine regeneration (EMAR) process for CO2 capture - Investigation on the precise mechanistic insights of the Cu/Cuz+ interfacial chemistry, the dynamic Cu2+/amine/CO2 at the surface and in bulk, and the degradation routes or unwanted parasitic faradaic currents.

Dissertation Summary:

In this project, we will use advanced in situ characterization methods and model experiments to advance the mechanistic understanding and guide development of improvements to the EMAR process. The effects of varied gas contents (decreased CO2 contents targeting 400 ppm, with the presence of O2 and N2) toward applying EMAR to direct air capture conditions, shall be further investigated. Development of an advanced reactor concept. This reactor will be based on porous electrodes fabricated in gas diffusion layers with the aim of separating the liquid sorbent and evolved gaseous CO2 transport channels, enhancing kinetics via improved mass transport and bubble avoidance. The goal is to reach 40 kJ/molCO2 or lower.

Fascination and motivation:

"I'm passionate about direct air carbon capture (DAC) because it offers a way to actively remove CO₂ from the atmosphere, addressing both current and historical emissions. Even with significant emission reductions, the CO₂ already in the air will continue to impact the climate, and DAC can help reverse this.
I’m drawn to DAC's role in achieving net-zero emissions, especially for hard-to-eliminate sources like aviation. The technology's flexibility and scalability make it a versatile tool that can be deployed globally, making a real impact.
There are also exciting opportunities for innovation and job creation, as well as the potential to repurpose captured CO₂ into useful products. With growing policy support, it feels like the right time to be involved. Beyond the technical benefits, DAC also contributes to environmental justice, helping mitigate the impacts on communities that are most affected by climate change but contributed the least to it.
Overall, working on DAC feels like a meaningful way to make a positive difference for the planet and future generations."

Yifan Xu, PhD Student

Academic Background:

Bachelor of Science in "Environmental Science and Engineering" (Beijing Normal University & Hong Kong Baptist University United International College)

Master of Science in "Applied Environmental Geoscience" with a focus on "Hydrogeology" (Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen)

Ongoing PhD (Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ)

Dissertation Topic:

Developing a Site Screening Framework to Identify Optimal Locations in Germany with A Case Study Exploring Dynamic Modeling for Large-Scale CO₂ Storage

Dissertation Summary:

Due to the unique attribute of Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology, which is not constrained by the proximity to emission sources, a novel site screening and ranking methodology is required to identify the most promising storage sites for DAC applications. To address this need, we developed a comprehensive site selection method and tested it based on storage conditions in the North German Basin and the North Sea. The selection methodology incorporates underground geological criteria as well as surface conditions to support the implementation of integrated DACCS systems in Germany. Furthermore, a case study focusing on large-scale CO₂ migration behavior was modeled using COMSOL, providing thermo-hydraulic-mechanical-chemical (THMC) coupled simulations to evaluate the suitability of the assessed underground storage sites.

Fascination and Motivation:

With a broad educational background spanning environmental science to applied environmental geoscience, I have always been drawn to the interconnected nature of geosciences. The parallels between phenomena like CO₂ plume migration and groundwater flow in reservoirs exemplify the shared principles that underpin diverse geoscientific fields. What excites me most about this project is the opportunity to delve deeper into geoscience, particularly rock geophysics and flow dynamics. This focus not only aligns with my academic foundation but also fuels my passion for continuous learning and exploration in the geoscience world. Embracing the challenges of this project perfectly fits my personal aspirations, offering a pathway to expand my expertise while contributing to innovative solutions in carbon management.

Participants

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