Rechargeable CO2 Battery for Increased Productivity and Efficiency in Controlled Environment Agriculture

Controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) is becoming increasingly popular because it provides significantly higher yields with while requiring 80% less water compared with conventional agricultural methods. One reason CEA can provide such impressive yields compared with conventional agriculture practices is due to the high level of environmental control creating ideal growing conditions. Controlling light quality nutrient levels water and air temperature growing media humidity and CO2 levels enables growers to target ideal conditions for each crop. However this control results in significant energy consumption. Supplemental CO2 typically from combustion of fossil fuels is currently utilized to support CO2 levels to maximize productivity and support photosynthesis inside these facilities. Li-CO2 batteries are energy storage devices capable of efficiently capturing CO2 from the ambient air which is then released during charge while offsetting or replacing the need to draw energy from the grid by enabling energy storage from renewables. Giner will focus on development of a cathode engineered to facilitate selective capture and release of CO2 at commercially relevant rates utilizing a non-volatile electrolyte and carefully designed internal structure and catalyst. The resulting technology will be modular and scalable and flexible in form factor to customize for different environmental needs. In addition to providing a direct air capture method to supply CO2 to CEA facilities the energy reseased during capture can be support the needs of growing facilities such as lighting or temperature control or stored in a power bank for later use. The proposed technology addresses both environmental and economic challenges for CEA resulting in a more economically competitive product.