Direct Air Capture Energy Cost

DAC developers, policy teams, and investors can turn energy intensity into cash exposure with a single glance. Provide the nameplate capture rate and kWh per tonne to see effective throughput at your assumed uptime, along with the implied power bills.

Target tons of CO₂ removed per day at full load.
Combined thermal + electrical energy required per tonne captured.
Optional. Defaults to $0.07/kWh for renewables-backed PPAs.
Optional. Defaults to 90%. Multiplies nameplate capacity to reflect outages and maintenance.

Screening tool only—pair with detailed process simulations before final investment decisions.

Examples

  • 500 tonnes/day at 2,200 kWh per tonne, $0.045/kWh power, and 92% uptime ⇒ Effective capture: 460.00 tonnes/day at 92.00% uptime • Daily energy draw: 1,012,000.00 kWh • Annual energy draw: 369,380,000.00 kWh • Power bill: $45,540.00 USD per day ($16,622,100.00 USD per year).
  • 120 tonnes/day and 1,800 kWh per tonne with default pricing and uptime ⇒ Effective capture: 108.00 tonnes/day at 90.00% uptime • Daily energy draw: 194,400.00 kWh • Annual energy draw: 70,956,000.00 kWh • Power bill: $13,608.00 USD per day ($4,966,920.00 USD per year).

FAQ

Does this include thermal energy credits?

Enter the combined equivalent kWh per tonne so the result captures both electrical and thermal energy requirements.

How do I model seasonal derates?

Adjust the uptime percentage to reflect expected seasonal availability or run separate scenarios and average the results.

Can I compare grid vs. on-site renewables?

Yes. Run the calculator with each electricity price assumption to see how PPA vs. merchant rates change cost per tonne.

Additional Information

  • Result unit: kilowatt-hours accompanied by dollarized energy spend.
  • Uptime defaults to 90% to approximate annual maintenance windows and weather-driven curtailment.
  • Electricity price accepts all-in energy, PPA, or marginal cost assumptions so you can benchmark different sites quickly.

Related calculators