PPL is proud to announce a major milestone in our sustainability journey – a breakthrough in direct air capture (DAC) technology. This achievement makes PPL one of a handful of companies nationwide with this technology and the only electric utility company in the U.S. actively operating a DAC system.
What We’ve Accomplished
In partnership with the University of Kentucky and with support from federal and industry partners including the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and TotalEnergies, PPL developed a DAC system that does two things at once:
- Captures carbon dioxide (CO₂) directly from the air
- Produces green hydrogen, a zero-carbon fuel source
This system uses air, water and renewable energy to create clean air, hydrogen and captured CO₂. It removes 90% of CO₂ from ambient air and is one of only two known systems in the world with this dual capability.
What DAC Is and Why It Matters
“Think of DAC as a giant air filter for the planet. It’s a cutting-edge technology that removes carbon dioxide (CO₂) directly from the air, helping to reverse climate change – not just slow it down,” said PPL Senior Director of Research and Development Aron Patrick. “If climate change had a ‘Ctrl-z’ button, DAC would be it.”
Unlike most other technologies that only reduce future emissions, DAC targets the CO₂ already in the atmosphere – a true game-changer for the environment.
Why This Breakthrough Matters
Several major hyperscalers are looking for partners in DAC to help meet their climate goals. They’re using waste heat from data centers to power DAC systems and making it central to their carbon-neutral strategies. Our breakthrough aligns with their carbon-removal goals and opens doors for future collaboration.
Scaling Up: The Big Picture
While the joint team has made tremendous progress, DAC technology remains in early stages and is still years away from full commercial deployment. However, the project represents an important step toward scaling up and refining this technology for broader use.
What’s Next?
Plans to move the unit to our Renewable Integration Research Facility at the E.W. Brown Generating Station in Kentucky are pending future funding decisions by the U.S. Department of Energy and industry partners, who together have provided more than 95% of project funding to date.
