Direct Air Capture Credit Stack Planner

Quantify whether your direct air capture project pencils out. Stack 45Q credits, voluntary carbon removal pricing, and state incentives against capture costs and capital charges to see per-ton margins, annual cash flow, and payback expectations.

Metric tons of carbon dioxide permanently captured each year.
Federal 45Q incentive per metric ton of CO₂ captured and sequestered.
Contracted voluntary carbon removal price for buyers securing offtake.
Levelized cost to capture, process, transport, and store each ton.
Defaults to $0. Add LCFS or state credit stacking per ton if applicable.
Defaults to $0. Enter annualized capex or financing payments to test cash payback.

Estimates only. Confirm eligibility for tax credits and contract terms with legal counsel and engineering providers before finalizing financing.

Examples

  • 10,000 tons captured, $180 45Q rate, $250 voluntary offtake, $400 capture cost, no state credit, $3,500,000 annualized capex ⇒ Revenue per ton $430.00 USD/ton • Cost per ton $400.00 USD/ton • Net margin per ton $30.00 USD/ton • Annual revenue $4,300,000.00 USD • Annual operating cost $4,000,000.00 USD • Annual gross margin before capex $300,000.00 USD • Annual net after capex −$3,200,000.00 USD • Revenue-to-cost ratio 107.50% • Incentive shortfall per ton $0.00 USD • Capex payback not reached with the current stack.
  • 25,000 tons captured, $180 45Q rate, $325 offtake, $380 capture cost, $45 state incentive, $2,000,000 capex ⇒ Revenue per ton $550.00 USD/ton • Cost per ton $380.00 USD/ton • Net margin per ton $170.00 USD/ton • Annual revenue $13,750,000.00 USD • Annual operating cost $9,500,000.00 USD • Annual gross margin before capex $4,250,000.00 USD • Annual net after capex $2,250,000.00 USD • Revenue-to-cost ratio 144.74% • Incentive shortfall per ton $0.00 USD • Simple payback on capex: 0.9 years.

FAQ

How should I enter storage credit sharing?

Reduce the 45Q rate to the net amount your project retains after sharing revenue with transport and storage partners.

Can I include advance market commitment prepayments?

Yes. Treat them as part of the voluntary offtake price per ton so long as buyers retire the tons upon delivery.

What if capture cost changes over time?

Re-run scenarios annually with updated cost curves to see when technology learning lowers per-ton expenses enough to cover capital charges.

How do I model merchant plants without offtake contracts?

Set the voluntary offtake price to $0 and rely on 45Q plus state credits so you can see the subsidy shortfall that needs to be filled by new buyers or policy support.

Additional Information

  • Revenue per ton combines federal 45Q incentives, voluntary market pricing, and optional state or LCFS adders.
  • Net margin per ton highlights the remaining subsidy gap compared to your capture cost floor.
  • Annual gross margin before capex shows cash flow available for operating expenses, storage partnerships, or debt service before financing charges.
  • Annual net after capex subtracts the entered capital charge to surface cash left for equity returns or reinvestment.
  • Coverage ratio reveals how many cents of incentive revenue you earn for every dollar spent capturing CO₂, helping you spot projects that still need subsidies.

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