# 148. Converting CO2 To Clean Fuel

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2023-11-14
- Length: 20m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-14-148-converting-co2-to-clean-fuel
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/148-converting-co2-to-clean-fuel-Pj_UOIcO

## Summary

Daniel and Forbode discuss a process developed by teams from MIT and Harvard to convert carbon dioxide into formate, a stable solid fuel. They explain how this method achieves over 90% carbon efficiency by using a cation exchange membrane to maintain pH, avoiding the inefficiencies of previous two-stage heating processes. The hosts highlight formate's advantages over hydrogen, including its non-toxic nature, long shelf life, and suitability for stationary energy storage in backup generators or grid-scale applications.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-14-148-converting-co2-to-clean-fuel#t=0) Introduction: MIT and Harvard CO2 to Formate Process
- [3:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-14-148-converting-co2-to-clean-fuel#t=214) Critique of Current 2-Stage Carbon Capture Inefficiency
- [6:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-14-148-converting-co2-to-clean-fuel#t=382) The Secret Sauce: Cathode, Membrane, and Anode Design
- [9:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-14-148-converting-co2-to-clean-fuel#t=586) Operational Stability and 90% Carbon Efficiency
- [12:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-14-148-converting-co2-to-clean-fuel#t=726) Formate vs. Hydrogen: Storage, Safety, and Energy Density
- [16:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2023-11-14-148-converting-co2-to-clean-fuel#t=996) Stationary Energy Storage and Grid Applications

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- MIT (company)
- Harvard (company)
- Wevolver (company)
- formate (other)
- sodium formate (other)
- potassium formate (other)
- syn gas (other)
- hydrogen (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Transforming CO2 Into an Ally in the Fight Against Climate Change with Claudio Spadacini, Founder and CEO of Energy Dome](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-11-10-transforming-co2-into-an-ally-in-the-fight-against-climate-change-with-claudio-s) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Clean Hydrogen on Demand with Max Mankin, CTO and Co-founder of Modern Electron, and Mothusi Pahl, Vice President of Business Development at Modern Electron](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-10-27-clean-hydrogen-on-demand-with-max-mankin-cto-and-co-founder-of-modern-electron-a) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Solving the Hydrogen Storage and Transport Challenge with Natasha Kostenuk, Founder and CEO of Ayrton Energy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-07-04-solving-the-hydrogen-storage-and-transport-challenge-with-natasha-kostenuk-found) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Moving the Needle on Decarbonizing Eight Gigatons of Atmospheric CO2 by 2050 with Luke Shors, Co-Founder Capture6](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-05-25-moving-the-needle-on-decarbonizing-eight-gigatons-of-atmospheric-co2-by-2050-wit) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Using Cooling Towers to Scale Atmospheric CO2 Removal with Silvain Toromanoff, Co-Founder and CTO of NeoCarbon](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-06-08-using-cooling-towers-to-scale-atmospheric-co2-removal-with-silvain-toromanoff-co) (Hardware to Save a Planet)

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