A new Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology developed by Trinity College Dublin is undergoing its first industrial-scale trial at Dublin Airport, marking a significant milestone in scalable carbon capture for the aviation and e-fuels industries.

Backed by a European Innovation Council Transition Grant (AirInMotion) and supported by Enterprise Ireland, the system is designed by Prof. Wolfgang Schmitt and Dr Sebastien Vaesen of Trinity’s School of Chemistry and AMBER research centre. The field test has been running for three months, collecting vital data on energy use, stability, and efficiency.

This DAC system captures CO₂ from the atmosphere using low-grade industrial waste heat, offering a path to meet upcoming ReFuelEU Aviation mandates, which require 2% SAF at EU airports by 2025, rising to 70% by 2050, with e-fuels accounting for 50% of that target.

The technology has been over a decade in development and is now primed for commercial scaling. Trinity is seeking further investment and partnerships to accelerate deployment.