The California Energy Commission is offering up to $11 million to support pre-commercial direct air capture (DAC) demonstration projects. Funding is available for two to four projects, with individual awards between $2.5 million and $5.5 million, provided they meet specific technology readiness levels. To qualify, projects must hit strict performance benchmarks, including a capture cost under $450 per metric ton of CO2 and a net removal capacity of at least 500 metric tons per year. The program also mandates a 20% private funding match and requires a dedicated portion of the budget for community engagement and local partnerships.
