How AutoCAD is powering the future of carbon capture technology

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Climate change has made extreme weather events like floods, heat waves, droughts, and hurricanes more frequent and dangerous. The World Health Organization (WHO) even calls climate change “the single biggest health threat facing humanity.” With such high stakes, new technologies are stepping up to help fight the crisis.

One such solution comes from the climate tech start-up, Heirloom, which is using AutoCAD to make carbon capture a reality. Let’s dive into how this partnership is shaping the future of carbon removal.

What Is carbon capture, and why do we need it?

At its core, carbon capture technology focuses on reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in our atmosphere. While cutting down emissions is important, it’s not enough to stop climate change. We must take an additional step and proactively remove CO2 that’s already there. That’s where Heirloom’s innovative technology comes in.

The company aims to pull 1 billion tons of CO2 out of the air each year by 2035. Achieving this ambitious goal relies on advanced tools like AutoCAD, which play a crucial role in their operations.

The secret ingredient: Limestone

Heirloom’s method for capturing CO2 is both smart and natural. The key ingredient? Limestone, which is scientifically referred to as calcium carbonate (CaCO3).This mineral acts like a sponge, soaking up CO2 from the air through a process called carbon mineralization.

Heirloom’s tech takes this natural process and speeds it up, using renewable energy to heat limestone and separate it into CO2 and calcium oxide (CaO). The captured CO2 is then safely stored, while the CaO is reused to absorb more carbon, restarting the cycle.

Why efficiency matters: The role of AutoCAD

To reach their goal of removing 1 billion tons of CO2 annually, Heirloom needs to make their technology as efficient and scalable as possible. That’s where AutoCAD comes in, particularly the AutoCAD Electrical toolset. This software helps Heirloom design, modify, and document the electrical systems that keep their carbon capture technology running smoothly.

AutoCAD Electrical is specialized for creating electrical control systems, making it perfect for Heirloom’s needs. The software allows the team to design and test systems with precision, ensuring everything works seamlessly.

According to Max Scholten, Heirloom’s Head of Commercialization, “Without AutoCAD, we would not be able to build, test, and run the equipment that we use as part of our atmospheric carbon dioxide capture process.”

Designing for scale: Making carbon capture affordable

Scaling up carbon capture technology is a big challenge. Heirloom’s approach is to build smaller, modular facilities that can be replicated across different locations. This makes it easier to expand without the massive costs typically associated with building large, single-use facilities. AutoCAD’s design capabilities make this modular approach possible by simplifying the process of creating and adjusting plans for new facilities.

One of the biggest hurdles in the carbon capture industry is cost. For Heirloom, the goal is to bring down the price of capturing CO2 to less than $100 per ton. Achieving this requires the efficiency and precision that AutoCAD provides.

The software helps Heirloom streamline its designs, cut costs, and speed up the development of new projects, making large-scale carbon capture more feasible and affordable.

The power of partnerships

Heirloom’s success doesn’t just come from innovative technology; it’s also about building strong partnerships. For example, in September 2023, Heirloom announced a long-term deal with Microsoft, which agreed to buy up to 315,000 metric tons of CO2 removal over ten years.

This contract is one of the largest of its kind and shows the growing demand for effective carbon capture solutions. Deals like this give Heirloom the financial boost they need to scale their technology, and with AutoCAD supporting their design processes, they can make it happen faster.

How AutoCAD is changing the game for heirloom

The way Heirloom uses AutoCAD goes beyond just designing electrical systems. The software allows the team to plan and optimize every detail of their facilities, from layout design to infrastructure and even how they integrate renewable energy. This holistic approach ensures that each facility runs efficiently and sustainably, keeping costs down and productivity high.

AutoCAD’s advanced design features are helping Heirloom streamline the entire process, from the initial planning stages to the final build. The software also makes it easier for Heirloom to replicate their facilities in different locations, which is key to scaling up their efforts. As more facilities pop up, the cost per unit of CO2 captured goes down, making the technology even more attractive for wider use.

Heirloom’s vision for a greener tomorrow

Heirloom has set an ambitious target to eliminate 1 billion tons of CO2 from the atmosphere annually by 2035. That’s a big number—about 10-20% of what experts say we need to remove globally.

To get there, Heirloom is focusing on making carbon capture as cost-effective as possible, which means improving efficiency and scaling up. AutoCAD is a big part of this strategy, helping the team design facilities that are quick to build and easy to operate.

By refining their designs and making their facilities modular, Heirloom can deploy more units, bringing the cost of carbon capture down over time. AutoCAD’s user-friendly features make it easy for the team to test new ideas and quickly adapt to changes, ensuring that they’re always at the cutting edge of carbon capture technology.

Wrapping up: The future of carbon capture with AutoCAD

As the impacts of climate change grow increasingly severe, the need for innovative solutions like carbon capture technology is more urgent than ever. Heirloom’s approach to Direct Air Capture, combined with the advanced design capabilities of AutoCAD, is paving the way for a future where large-scale carbon removal is both feasible and affordable.

By utilizing tools like AutoCAD Electrical, Heirloom is able to design and implement efficient control systems that power their DAC technology, helping to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture facilities worldwide.

AutoCAD isn’t just a design tool for Heirloom; it’s a vital part of their mission to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing our planet. As Heirloom continues to grow, their partnership with Autodesk will be essential in optimizing design processes, reducing costs, and ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future. Supporting companies like Heirloom shows that technology can be a powerful ally in the global effort to combat climate change.

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