A CO2 Capture "Heilmeier Catechism" for the Department of Defense
A Heilmeier Catechism (a DARPA favorite tool) exploring DOD net zero pathways.
DOD’s Alternate plan to achieve Net Zero CO2 emissions
1. What are you trying to do?
Objective: The Department of Defense (DOD) aims to reach Net Zero CO2 emissions by 2050, focusing particularly on "hard-to-abate" emissions.
Challenge: Current CO2 capture technologies, which are inefficient and costly, push the DOD towards impractical solutions like real-time CO2 capture on operational vehicles, which diverts from mission focus and adds logistical burdens due to the hazardous nature of CO2.
Solution: Establish a single, land-based CO2 Direct Air Capture and Sequestration facility to manage emissions, simplifying the process and maintaining operational integrity.
2. How is it done today, and what are the limits of current practice?
Current Practices: The Department of Energy (DOE) supports technologies that are energy-intensive, with significant energy losses in CO2 capture processes. For instance, point source capture from flue gas or Direct Air Capture (DAC) technologies consumes far more energy than theoretically necessary, indicating poor efficiency. (3GJ/tCO2, 6GJ/tCO2 respectively).
Limitations: These technologies are energy intensive because they destroy feed exergy and are not designed for Partial Pressure Staging, which is crucial for arbitrarily scalable and energy-efficient CO2 capture.
3. What is new in your approach and why do you think it will be successful?
Innovation: Develop a novel, nature-inspired CO2 capture technology that:
Effectively utilizes feed exergy, reducing DAC energy consumption to 1.05GJ/tCO2. (Much less for hydrocarbon synthesis—SAF, Propane, etc.)
Achieves Partial Pressure Staging, enhancing efficiency and scalability.
Estimates a cost of $150/tCO2, promising capital expenditure benefits under Wright’s Law.
Implementation: Establish a dedicated facility in Texas for all DOD CO2 removal needs, ensuring that operational activities remain unaffected by CO2 management.
4. Who cares? If you are successful, what difference will it make?
Impact on DOD:
Financial: Predictable and regular annual expenditure of $3B for 20 million tons of CO2 removal, with potential income from excess removals.
Strategic: Achieves Net Zero for hard-to-abate emissions by 2035 without operational compromise.
Technological: Demonstrates the feasibility of gigaton-scale DAC, paving the way for sustainable hydrocarbon production like Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Global Impact:
Sets a precedent for large-scale, efficient CO2 removal, potentially influencing global environmental strategies.
Enhances the credibility and leadership of the DOD in environmental technology, possibly influencing international military and environmental policies.
This approach not only aligns with the DOD's strategic objectives but also positions it as a leader in environmental technology, potentially revolutionizing how global defense forces approach sustainability. By focusing on a single, highly efficient CO2 capture facility, the DOD can achieve its environmental goals without compromising its primary mission capabilities, setting a new standard for military environmental stewardship.
President Biden's Executive Order 14057 sets a bold vision for the U.S. government to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050[1], including the Department of Defense (DOD), which is one of the largest consumers of fossil fuels globally. In FY 2021 alone, the DOD's emissions from jet fuel combustion were staggering, accounting for a significant portion of its total carbon footprint[2]. While the DOD is exploring innovative solutions like Shipboard Carbon Capture and Storage (N232-107, DARPA-SN-24-30), these approaches, especially when applied to mobile units like aircraft and naval ships, are not only impractical but will compromise mission capabilities.[3]
Imagine equipping fighter jets with CO2 capture systems, requiring mid-air CO2 transfer during refueling. This scenario not only sounds far-fetched but highlights the absurdity of applying such technologies to highly specialized military equipment where every ounce and cubic inch is optimized for combat efficiency, not environmental management. The same logic applies to naval vessels, where the addition of bulky CO2 capture systems will detract from their primary functions, from combat readiness to logistical support.
The current direction, driven by a lack of viable alternatives from the Department of Energy (DOE), pushes the DOD towards adopting inefficient and impractical solutions. The DOE's failure to advance energy-efficient CO2 capture technologies leaves the DOD with no choice but to entertain these "stupid ideas." However, this is where a paradigm shift is not just necessary but crucial.
Why the DOD Should Lead the Charge in CO2 Capture Innovation:
Strategic Autonomy: By developing its own energy-efficient Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology, the DOD can bypass the DOE's shortcomings. This would allow the creation of a dedicated facility for CO2 removal, which could operate without compromising military operations.
Technological Advancement: The DOD (DARPA) has the resources and motivation to push the boundaries of what's currently possible. Developing a CO2 capture technology capable of Partial Pressure Staging could revolutionize CO2 capture, making it far more energy-efficient and arbitrarily scalable.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Production: With energy-efficient CO2 capture, the DOD could lead in producing SAF (and other hydrocarbons, like propane), which is currently hindered by the high energy costs associated with existing DAC technologies. This would not only aid in meeting emissions targets but also secure a strategic advantage in fuel supply. Innovative and extremely precise hydrocarbon blends may spur innovation.
Mission Integrity: By focusing on off-site CO2 management rather than integrating capture systems into operational vehicles, the DOD ensures that its primary mission capabilities are not diluted by environmental considerations.
Long-term Vision: Investing in its own CO2 capture technology positions the DOD as a leader in environmental stewardship within the military-industrial complex, potentially setting standards for global defense forces.
Clean Technology Slate: The DOE has stumbled in its quest for energy-efficient CO2 capture, primarily due to an over-reliance on mature chemical processes. Their approach isn't just ineffective; it's akin to scientific negligence. Meanwhile, the DOD stands ready to innovate from the ground up, employing a first-principles strategy that will revolutionize CO2 capture technology.
Extreme Focus: As the world grapples with the dire implications of climate change, the DOE's priorities are misaligned. They place a greater emphasis on the Justice40 Initiative[4] than on pioneering CO2 capture solutions. Their focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)[5] and community benefits[6] diverts resources from technological breakthroughs. Conversely, the DOD, unburdened by these mandates, is poised to support American innovators, ensuring that the U.S. leads in this critical technology race, not China.
This path forward for the DOD isn't about rejecting the President's sustainability goals but reimagining how these goals can be achieved without sacrificing operational effectiveness. By taking the initiative in CO2 capture technology, the DOD could not only meet but exceed these environmental mandates, setting a new benchmark for how military operations can align with global sustainability efforts. This approach not only promises a more secure and sustainable future but also reinforces the DOD's role as an innovator in technology and strategy.
[1] Net-Zero Emissions Operations by 2050, including a 65% reduction by 2030 | Federal Sustainability Plan | Office of the Federal Chief Sustainability Officer
[2] 2023-DOD-PLAN-TO-REDUCE-GREENHOUSE-GAS-EMISSIONS.PDF (defense.gov)
[3] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/378470071_Techno-economic_analysis_of_onboard_CO2_capture_for_ultra-large_container_ships
[4] Justice40 Initiative | Department of Energy
[5] https://americanmadechallenges.org/challenges/direct-air-capture/docs/DAC-Pre-Commercial-Prize-Rules.pdf
[6]https://www.herox.com/protected/91/1962/attachment:vZQWbkvTmEeu5mhWH1dGJmBYsQNQ2PSse0HjMlOwUTo