Internship - Techno-Economic Assessment of Direct Air Capture

WE ARE SKYTREE

Skytree enables a transition to a world with cleaner Air for everyone. We do this by developing and deploying smart technology that captures atmospheric carbon dioxide, enabling its use or storage to combat climate change and aid society and businesses around the world.

Born out of the European Space Agency (ESA), we are a global team of highly talented scientists, engineers and business professionals, supported by an experienced management team. Our working culture is based on a dynamic and smart approach to business with an open and understanding attitude to others and a desire to expand the boundaries of what is possible.

As we enter a new phase of growth, we are looking for a driven MSc student to continue on this journey with us.

Take a moment to read more about our values and life at Skytree on our Careers Page.

Ready to make your mark on the world of CO2? Then read on!

THE PROJECT

The goal of this internship is to develop a model for Techno-Economic Assessment on Direct Air Capture technology as developed by Skytree, and to integrate the results into an existing Life Cycle Assessment structure.

Skytree builds technology for the Direct Air Capture (DAC) of CO2 that is needed to combat climate change. As part of that technology, we design, develop, and build filters and products for CO2 capture. In order to verify negative environmental footprints of all our operations and products, we perform in-house Life Cycle Assessment (LCAs). The economic counterpart of LCA, Techno-Economic Assessment (TEA) provides vital information on the economics associated with a technology under development. Research shows that 70-80% of a new product emissions and costs are determined during the design state. Performing TEA in combination with LCA enables the simultaneous analysis of a technology on environmental and economical aspects. This comprehensive approach allows for finding hotspots for improving the technology on both aspects.

Similarly to LCA, a TEA consists of four steps: goal and scope determination, inventory data collection, result calculation and interpretation. Additionally, TEA can be integrated into the LCA, or the results of both analyses can be compared after separate analysis.

Literature examples of Techno-Economic Assessment on Direct Air Capture include:

• Faber G, Mangin C and Sick V (2021) Life Cycle and Techno-Economic Assessment Templates for Emerging Carbon Management Technologies. Front. Sustain. 2:764057.

• Mahdi Fasihi, Olga Efimova, Christian Breyer, (2019) Techno-economic assessment of CO2 direct air capture plants. Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 224, Pages 957-980.
  

YOU’LL MAKE AN IMPACT BY

• Development of a TEA model, including deciding on the software that is needed, based on existing guidelines and literature.

• Using the model to analyze Skytree’s technology, including the influence of changing design or production parameters, e.g. the recycling rate of used materials.

• Potentially extending the research through parameter sampling, uncertainty and sensitivity analysis to study the effect of the following key performance indicators:

  • Scaling up of the technology

  • The use of different energy sources (geographic/ type)

  • CCUS use cases.

• Adjust model parameters to suggest an optimum working scenario.

• Potentially extending the research to a projection towards 2050.
  
  

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• We are looking for a self-sufficient, proactive Master student, who is interested in sustainability and wants to use data!

• Experience with data handling, LCA and/or TEA is a plus.

• The work will be independent, but in collaboration with Skytree’s employees with background on both TEA and LCA.

• You own an EU passport and/or have the right to work in the Netherlands.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

• An opportunity for professional and personal growth in one of the most innovative cleantech start-ups in Amsterdam!

• A diverse and international team

• A cozy office located close to the Science Park train station, also close to the highway

• Access to the Science Park and Amsterdam University cafeterias (and all the great and healthy meal options)

• A monthly lunch allowance

• Regular social activities hosted by our very own Champagne Committee