Regional Direct Air Capture Hubs Update

On December 13, 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED), in partnership with the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, announced $3.5 billion in funding to develop four domestic regional direct air capture hubs. The first funding opportunity announcement under this program made available more than $1.2 billion to begin the process for conceptualizing, designing, planning, constructing, and operating direct air capture hubs, with additional opportunities expected to follow in the coming years.

The first stage of this funding application process required potential applicants to submit Letters of Intent by February 17, 2023. Full Applications for the Regional Direct Air Capture Hubs Funding Opportunity Announcement were due on March 13, 2023. 

On August 11, 2023, OCED announced projects selected for award negotiations following a rigorous Merit Review process to identify meritorious applications to the Direct Air Capture Hubs Program based on the criteria listed in the Funding Opportunity Announcement.(link is external) OCED began awarding DAC Hub projects in March 2024.

On February 27, 2024, OCED issued a Request for Information (RFI) in support of the Regional Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hubs program, which seeks public input from industry, investors, developers, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, potentially impacted communities, and other entities on their interest, potential structure, benefits, and risks of mid-scale commercial DAC demonstration facilities. Responses to the RFI were due by April 25, 2024 at 5 p.m., ET. Learn more here.

On September 20, 2024, OCED issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to fund up to $1.8 billion for the design, construction, and operation of mid- and large-scale commercial direct air capture (DAC) facilities and infrastructure scaling platforms. Learn more here

In October 2024, DOE issued a Request for Information to obtain public input regarding additional approaches that current and future DOE programs could implement to help direct air capture (DAC) developers address challenges in raising project investment capital and achieving sustained facility operations. OCED may publicly share a summary of the responses in written, webinar, or other formats.  

On December 19, 2024, DOE issued a reoccurring Notice of Funding Opportunity to fund up to $1.8 billion for the design, construction, and operation of mid- and large-scale commercial direct air capture (DAC) facilities and infrastructure access platforms. Learn more and apply here.

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