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Hydroponic and greenhouse cultivation offer clear environmental advantages, particularly in water efficiency and reduced food miles. Recirculating systems, for example, use dramatically less water than conventional soil agriculture. However, these systems have long faced a significant sustainability challenge: CO₂ enrichment.
To maximize plant growth and photosynthesis, growers enrich the environment with CO₂—typically raising concentrations to around 1,000 ppm. Historically, this has relied on gas burners in greenhouses or CO₂ canisters and burners in indoor farms. These methods burn fossil fuels, introduce contaminants when overused, and create heat loads that often require venting, especially during summer. This creates energy inefficiencies and undermines sustainability goals.
A promising alternative is emerging: Direct Air Capture (DAC).
Direct Air Capture is a technology that extracts CO₂ directly from ambient air, concentrates it, and provides it as a clean CO₂ source for use in controlled environments. When powered by renewable energy—solar, wind, tidal, or nuclear—the carbon footprint of DAC-produced CO₂ is extremely low.
A Japanese company, Seibu Gaiken BSTAB, part of the publicly listed Seibu Gaiken group, is pioneering DAC systems designed for agricultural use. Their technology, already tested in Japan, is beginning to make its way into European greenhouses.
1. Clean CO₂ Without Fossil Fuels
DAC eliminates the need for gas burners and canisters, providing growers with high-purity CO₂ without combustion by-products. This is especially important because contaminants in flue gases can damage crops.
2. Renewable Energy Integration
When powered by clean energy sources, DAC dramatically reduces the carbon footprint of CO₂ enrichment. If run on fossil fuels, however, its footprint can rise to about 0.5 tons of CO₂ emitted per ton captured, weakening the sustainability advantage—making renewable integration essential.
3. Improved Environmental Control
DAC systems may be capable of more than CO₂ delivery. Early information suggests potential benefits such as:
4. Yield Improvements
Trials conducted in Japan across 30 crops in the Fukuoka Prefecture showed an average 20% increase in yield when DAC-based CO₂ enrichment was used.
5. Reduced Unwanted Heat
Gas burners produce substantial heat that must often be vented during warm seasons. DAC systems produce significantly less heat, potentially reducing cooling loads. However, growers may still need supplemental heating—such as heat pumps or electric systems—during colder periods.
Other alternatives to fossil-fuel-based CO₂ include:
However, these methods can introduce unwanted gases like ethylene, requiring scrubbing systems to protect crops. DAC delivers clean CO₂ without these risks.
It remains unclear whether large-scale greenhouses, vertical farms, or indoor growers will be the earliest adopters. Small-scale growers may not see DAC accessibility in the near term due to unit size and cost. Over time, however, the technology could scale similarly to LEDs or environmental sensors—first adopted by commercial operations, then gradually entering smaller facilities.
The technology is still emerging, and questions remain regarding long-term performance, cost efficiency, and integration with existing HVAC and environmental control systems. Growers who adopt a conservative “late adopter” stance may wait until data and pricing mature.
Direct Air Capture represents a promising step toward sustainable CO₂ enrichment in hydroponics, greenhouses, and indoor farms. Its ability to provide clean CO₂ without burning fossil fuels could significantly improve environmental impact while maintaining, or even improving, crop yields.
As this technology enters European markets and gains traction in commercial facilities, growers should monitor its development closely. DAC could become a defining tool in the next generation of controlled-environment agriculture.
If you have experience with DAC systems in horticulture or have seen them deployed at scale, sharing first hand insights will help the wider growing community understand their potential and limitations.
Article by Dr Russell Sharp
If you would like to keep up to date with subjects just like this, you can listen to both our podcasts! Links can be found bellow:
Hydroponics Daily Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hydroponics-daily/id1788172771
Cereal Killers Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cereal-killers/id1695783663