A direct air capture (DAC) system is set to be integrated into a planned synthetic fuel project in Kenya, with the partners targeting a scale-up to tens of kilotonnes of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) captured each year.
Skytree, Galetech Energy Developments and Mwahera Green Hydrogen signed an agreement on 21 October to integrate DAC technology into the Mwangea e-Fuels Project, where captured CO2 will be combined with green hydrogen to produce synthetic fuels.
The project will begin with an initial deployment phase, with further expansion dependent on technical and commercial performance verification.
Under the agreement, Skytree will supply its DAC technology and engineering support, while Galetech will lead project development and engineering integration. Mwahera Green Hydrogen will oversee regional development and site execution.
Michael Bermingham, Head of e-Fuel Developments at Galetech, said the technology would reduce reliance on conventional CO2 sources.
“Integrating Skytree’s DAC technology into the Mwangea process eliminates reliance on industrial flue gas and volatile CO2 supply chains,” he said.
Cost remains a challenge
DAC offers an alternative source of CO2 for synthetic fuel production, but its cost remains a barrier to wider adoption.
Unlike conventional carbon capture, which separates CO2 from concentrated industrial exhaust streams, DAC extracts the gas directly from ambient air, where concentrations are much lower. This generally increases energy requirements and capture costs.
Energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie has estimated that DAC costs exceed $800 per tonne of CO2. The economics of projects such as Mwangea will depend on reducing capture costs alongside those associated with green hydrogen and fuel synthesis.
This could be achieved by making improvements in energy efficiency and system design. In April, US-based Sustaera claimed its technology could reduce DAC costs by three to five times compared with conventional approaches.
The firm said its nano-structured, mineral-based sorbent material could help bring costs below $100 per tonne.
For Skytree and its partners, Kenya’s renewable energy resources could offer an advantage, with the project partners stating that more than 80% of the country’s grid electricity comes from geothermal, hydro, wind and solar power.
Peter van Hooft, VP Project Development EMEA at Skytree, said, “By capturing atmospheric CO2 right where clean energy is generated, we can supply predictable, scalable carbon feedstock at the cost profile required to make synthetic fuels a commercial reality worldwide.”
The announcement does not specify the initial capture capacity, commissioning date, investment value or planned fuel output. The longer-term target remains subject to technical and commercial verification.
With synthetic fuels aimed at hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation and maritime transport, the partners see Kenya’s renewable energy resources as a potential export opportunity.
“The Mwangea project transforms Kenya’s renewable energy advantage into a high-value export commodity for global markets, said Dr Kenneth Namunje, Director of Mwahera Green Hydrogen, said.
The companies have not disclosed specific export markets or confirmed fuel offtake agreements.
