Solar-powered Device Captures Carbon Dioxide From Air to Make Sustainable Fuel
Published by Todd Bush on February 14, 2025
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a solar-powered reactor that pulls carbon dioxide directly from the air and converts it into sustainable fuel using sunlight.
The reactor, highlighted in Nature Energy, could produce fuel for cars, planes, and chemicals without relying on fossil fuels, CO2 transport, or storage. The device captures atmospheric CO2 and uses sunlight to create syngas, a key chemical intermediate.
>> In Other News: PX Group Wins ‘Landmark’ Teesside Biomass Contract
Professor Erwin Reisner, who led the research, said, “Aside from the expense and energy intensity, CCS provides an excuse to carry on burning fossil fuels. Our system makes something useful from CO2 without storing it underground.”
Dr. Sayan Kar, lead author, added, “CO2 is harmful, but we can turn it into useful chemicals without contributing to global warming.”
The device works like photosynthesis, using sunlight without external power. Specialized filters capture CO2 at night, which is then converted into syngas during the day using infrared and ultraviolet radiation.
The team is developing a larger version and aims to convert syngas into liquid fuels for vehicles and planes. If scaled up, the reactor could remove CO2 from the atmosphere and create clean fuel for remote locations.
Reisner’s research group focuses on devices that convert waste, water, and air into fuels. The project is supported by UKRI, the European Research Council, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Cambridge Trust.
Subscribe to the newsletter
Daily decarbonization data and news delivered to your inbox
Follow the money flow of climate, technology, and energy investments to uncover new opportunities and jobs.
Latest issues
-
Chevron’s Boldest Carbon Capture Bet Revealed
Inside This Issue 🌎 Chevron Doubles Down on Carbon Capture with Massive Bayou Bend Hub 🌱 Manitoba Startup Pitches $5 Million Biochar Processing Plant to Ritchot Municipality 🏭 MATHESON to Build Ne...
-
They Just Buried Air Underground - Here’s How
Inside This Issue 🌎 History Made: Deep Sky Alpha Begins Operations with North America's First CO2 Storage via Direct Air Capture 🏅 Neste Achieved Platinum Medal in EcoVadis Sustainability Assessme...
-
378,000 Credits Later: Proof That BECCS Delivers
Inside This Issue 🌱 Why Gevo's Live BECCS Project Changes Everything 🛢️ Alternative Carbon Carrier Technology Could Improve Both Oil Production and Carbon Storage 🌊 Hyundai Engineering & Const...
Company Announcements
-
MATHESON to Build New Air Separation Plant in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, ION Clean Energy (ION), a leading provider of innovative post-combustion carbon capture solutions, announced a new offering called ICE Blocks™. These standar...
-
Manitoba Startup Pitches $5 Million Biochar Processing Plant to Ritchot Municipality
A pioneering waste management solution could soon transform how one Manitoba community handles organic waste. This week, Carbon Lock Tech, an innovative local startup, presented an ambitious propos...
-
What US Clean Energy Tax Credit Types Are Available in 2025?
In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) paved the way to grow clean energy investments in the US by extending and adding new types of tax credits. Its largest innovation, transferability, allow...
-
Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal Coalition Launches, Creates Forum to Responsibly Grow the Field
The coalition unites marine carbon removal companies, nonprofits, and academics to advance research and the responsible development of the sector WASHINGTON, Aug. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mari...