Harnessing Direct Air Capture Technology for Indoor Farming
Indoor farming relies heavily on the use of carbon dioxide (CO₂) as it is crucial for plant growth and productivity. Here are the key points on the importance of CO₂ for indoor farming:
- CO₂ is essential for plant photosynthesis and growth. Plants use CO₂ from the air and convert it into sugars that fuel their growth and development. If CO₂ levels drop below 250 parts per million (ppm), plant growth will stop.
- Indoor farming operations need to replenish the CO₂ that is removed from the farm during harvesting. When plants are harvested, the carbon-rich plant matter is removed, depleting the CO₂ in the growing environment. Growers must actively supplement CO₂ to maintain optimal levels for continued plant growth.
- Proper CO₂ supplementation can boost plant yields by around 30%. Most indoor farms aim to maintain CO₂ levels between 800-1200 ppm, as this range optimizes the CO₂ uptake and utilization by plants.
- CO₂ can also be used as a natural pest control method in indoor farms. High CO₂ concentrations of 5% or more over four days can kill insects without harming the plants.
Managing CO₂ levels is critical for the success of indoor farming operations. Growers use methods like burning fuels, releasing bottled CO₂, or using decomposition processes to supplement CO₂ and maximize plant growth, productivity, and pest control.
The two main methods of enriching CO₂ levels in indoor farming facilities – burning fossil fuels like natural gas or propane, and releasing compressed CO₂ from tanks – are not environmentally friendly for the following reasons:
- Burning fossil fuels releases significant amounts of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. While effective at supplementing CO₂ levels for plant growth, this method has a large carbon footprint.
- Releasing compressed CO₂ from tanks, while simpler, is less cost-effective and energy-efficient than burning fuels. Although it doesn’t directly produce additional emissions, the production and transportation of pure CO₂ tanks still have an environmental impact.
Both methods rely on non-renewable energy sources and do not align with the goal of sustainable, eco-friendly indoor farming. They fail to address the “Achilles’ heel” of high energy consumption in these controlled environments. To mitigate the environmental impact, indoor farms should explore alternative CO₂ enrichment methods.
What is DAC?
Direct air capture (DAC), as the name suggests, involves the direct removal of CO₂ from ambient air. Unlike traditional carbon capture technologies that focus on capturing emissions from point sources like power plants, DAC systems target CO₂ molecules present in the atmosphere, irrespective of their source. This distinguishes DAC as a versatile and proactive approach to addressing carbon emissions.
Key Components of DAC
Air Capturing Process (ACPs): This consists of specialized materials, typically sorbents or absorbents, designed to selectively capture CO₂ from the surrounding air. ACP employs various mechanisms such as chemical adsorption or physical adsorption to effectively trap CO2 molecules.
Regeneration Processes: Once captured, the CO₂ needs to be removed from the sorbent material. This step is crucial for regenerating the sorbent and releasing concentrated CO₂ or CO₂-enriched air for subsequent utilization or sequestration. The regeneration can be done using different methods, e.g. heat, low pressure, chemical processing, or a combination of both.
Benefits of Direct Air Capture
Resource Utilization: Captured CO₂ can be utilized in various industrial processes, contributing to the circular economy, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Additionally, in the realm of indoor farming, greenhouses, and vertical farms, the captured CO2 can enhance plant growth by increasing the concentration of CO₂, which is a critical component of photosynthesis. This not only improves crop yields and efficiency but also supports sustainable agricultural practices by reducing the need for external carbon sources.
Carbon Neutrality: DAC offers a pathway to achieve carbon neutrality by actively removing CO₂ from the atmosphere and offsetting emissions from various sources and industries. By incorporating DAC into indoor farming systems, such as greenhouses and vertical farms, the captured CO₂ can be recycled back into the agricultural cycle, further promoting a sustainable loop. This integration helps to balance the carbon equation by both sequestering carbon and using it to foster plant growth, thereby contributing to a more holistic approach to carbon management and environmental stewardship.
Versatility: Unlike traditional carbon capture technologies, DAC is not limited to specific point sources, making it applicable in diverse settings and geographical locations.
Climate Resilience: DAC provides a proactive approach to climate change mitigation, offering a means to directly address atmospheric CO₂ concentrations and their associated impacts.
Direct Carbon Team at GreenTech Amsterdam | Photo: Direct Carbon
Direct Carbon
Direct Carbon is a Swedish company that provides solutions for CO₂ capture from the air and release in indoor farming facilities. Their patented-technology solutions enable companies to generate CO₂ from the air as fertilizer for food production. Direct Carbon created a closed-loop system that takes in air from the greenhouse, enriches it with captured CO₂, and pump it back into the greenhouse at a higher PPM level.
The Wunderpumpe. | Photo: Direct Carbon
Their compact machine, the Wunderpumpe Aurora, weighs under 70 kg and occupies less than a cubic meter of space, making it ideal for container farms, in-store farms, and small indoor vertical farms. Utilizing cost-effective chemistry and the proprietary closed-loop system, Direct Carbon prioritizes keeping the total cost of ownership (TCO) low while ensuring energy efficiency in CO₂ capture. The company aims to build more machines with varying capacities and specifications suitable for vertical farms of all sizes.
Their user-friendly online platform lets oversee and manage their machinery, offering simple integration capabilities with their pre-existing climate control systems. Their plug-and-play solution is designed to make installation, operation, and maintenance easy. Direct Carbon offers their product as a service, eliminating upfront investment for customers, and facilitating their transition from fossil CO₂ setups to a fully circular approach.
Direct Carbon Launches Wunderpumpe at GreenTech Amsterdam
Direct Carbon successfully launched its Wunderpumpe at GreenTech Amsterdam in 2024. This device, which is designed to enhance CO₂ capture and utilization, garnered attention for its potential to simplify industrial processes and indoor farming practices. The Wunderpumpe’s technology captures CO₂ from the air and repurposes it for use in greenhouses and vertical farms, promoting sustainable agriculture by boosting plant growth and yields.
Consider Using DAC in Your Operation
In the realm of indoor farming, where precision and sustainability are paramount, the adoption of DAC technology represents a pivotal advancement. Traditional methods of CO₂ enrichment, such as burning fossil fuels or using compressed CO₂ tanks, pose significant environmental challenges, from carbon emissions to energy inefficiencies. These methods not only contribute to climate change but also hinder sustainable agriculture. DAC offers a transformative solution by directly capturing CO₂ from the atmosphere, independent of emission sources.