Siemens Energy’s Compressors for DAC Plant

Siemens Energy has announced that its compressors will be utilized in Occidental's large-scale direct air capture (DAC) plant in the Permian Basin of Texas, which is being developed by 1PointFive. The two compressor packages will facilitate the plant's capacity to capture up to 500,000 metric tons of CO2 per year once fully operational.

Caption: Diagram of the Siemens Energy STC-GV (40-5) compressor. Credit: Siemens Energy.

The announcement was made by Siemens Energy President and CEO Christian Bruch and Occidental President and CEO Vicki Hollub at the 41st annual CERAWeek Energy Conference in Houston, Texas. Siemens Energy will provide a motor-driven 13,000 horsepower (hp) fully modular wet gas compressor package and a motor-driven 8,500 hp dry gas compressor for the DAC plant. This equipment will compress the captured CO2 for additional processing and pressurize the final product for injection into underground reservoirs.

The DAC compressor is responsible for compressing air containing CO2 to a higher pressure, enabling efficient separation and removal of the gas. The compressor can be powered by electricity or other energy sources and is designed to handle the large volumes of air required for effective carbon capture.

Once the air is compressed, it undergoes a series of chemical and mechanical processes to separate CO2 from the rest of the air. The separated gas can then be stored or utilized for other purposes, such as enhanced oil recovery or the production of chemicals and fuels.

1PointFive's plant aims to offer practical solutions for industries that are difficult to decarbonize, helping them achieve net-zero emissions. Captured CO2 can be safely sequestered deep underground in saline formations or used to produce hydrocarbons. This process enables the production of lower-carbon or net-zero transportation fuels and contributes to the creation of products like chemicals and building materials.

Policy incentives, such as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), are being implemented to encourage the use of DAC technology as a climate solution that can assist organizations in reducing their CO2 emissions. The IRA incentivizes the adoption of technologies that can help decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, demand for DAC technology is increasing in sectors like aviation and heavy industry.