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Search results for: “direct air capture”

  • Refinery membranes: where’s the IP?

    Refinery membranes: where’s the IP?

    This data-file reviews over 1,000 patents to identify the technology leaders aiming to use membranes instead of other separation processes (e.g.,ย  distillation) within refineries.ย Operational data are also presented for an ExxonMobil breakthrough and Air Products’s hydrogen recovery technology.

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  • Form Energy: long-duration battery breakthrough?

    Form Energy: long-duration battery breakthrough?

    Form Energy is aiming to commercialize a metal-air battery, for long-duration energy storage, using only safe and Earth-abundant materials. The first 1MW/150MWH system could be deployed by 2023. Compared to other patent libraries, we have found it harder to de-risk Form’s technology.

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  • Vacuum pumps: company screen?

    Vacuum pumps: company screen?

    The global market for vacuum pumps is worth $15bn per year, with growing importance for making semiconductors, solar panels and AI chips. This data-file reviews ten leading companies in vacuum pumps, including one European-listed capital goods leader, a European pure-play and a Japanese-listed pure-play.

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  • Origen Carbon: DAC breakthrough?

    Origen Carbon: DAC breakthrough?

    Origen Carbon Solutions is developing a novel DAC technology, producing CaO sorbent via the oxy-fuelled calcining of limestone with no net CO2 emissions. It is similar to the NET Power cycle, but adapted for a limestone kiln. The concept is very interesting. Our base case costs are $200-300/ton of CO2. This data-file contains our Origen…

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  • Mainspring Energy: linear generator breakthrough?

    Mainspring Energy: linear generator breakthrough?

    Linear generator technology can convert any gaseous fuel into electricity, with c45% electrical efficiency, and >80% efficiency in CHP mode. This data-file reviews Mainspring Energy’s patents. We conclude that the company has locked up the IP for piston-seal assemblies in a linear generator with air bearings, but longevity/maintenance could be a key challenge to explore.

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  • US electricity demand: by sector, by use, over time?

    US electricity demand: by sector, by use, over time?

    US electricity sales reached 4,000 TWH in 2024, rising +2.3% YoY, and bringing the trailing ten-year CAGR to 0.5% pa. The current breakdown is 38% residential, 36% commercial, 26% industrial. All three are now growing. To help understand load growth, this data-file is a breakdown of US electricity demand by sector, by use and over…

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  • Electrochemistry: battery voltage and the Nernst Equation?

    Electrochemistry: battery voltage and the Nernst Equation?

    What determines the Voltage of an electrochemical cell, such as a lithium ion battery, redox flow battery, a hydrogen fuel cell, an electrolyser or an electrowinning plant? This note explains electrochemical voltages, from first principles, starting with Standard Potentials and the Nernst Equation.

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  • Photovoltaic silicon: the economics?

    Photovoltaic silicon: the economics?

    This model breaks down the costs of photovoltaic silicon, which explains $0.1/W of a $0.3/W solar panel. There is no way silicon producers are making economic returns below $12.5/kg mono-crystalline polysilicon prices. The average kg of PV silicon in a solar panel is also most likely associated with 140kg of direct CO2.

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  • Global PGM demand: breakdown by metal and use?

    Global PGM demand: breakdown by metal and use?

    Core global PGM demand ran at 565 tons in 2023, which remains c6% lower than the all-time peak demand of 600Tpa in 2019. We model a recovery to 700 Tpa of demand for platinum, palladium and rhodium in 2030, then a long run decline to 350Tpa if EVs ultimately reach 90% of vehicle sales by…

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  • Wildfire suppression companies?

    Wildfire suppression companies?

    1-2bn acres of land burns globally each year, which could increase by over 35% due to climate change. Hence this data-file screens emerging companies in wildfire suppression, which are focused on preventing, detecting and containing wildfires. The most commonly used methods are drones and AI. Thus adapting to climate change requires more energy not less?

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