Development of a highly Efficient and Practical Carbon Management System for Improving Qatar’s Sustainability: A holistic approach

Increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere alter the Earth’s energy balance by trapping additional heat and resulting in an increase of the Earth’s temperature known as global warming. CO2 levels on a global average basis were 405 ppm in 2017 increasing by about 2-3 ppm every year. Apart from its serious effects on climate change, CO2 can negatively affect air quality if its concentration exceeds certain threshold values. CO2 concentrations in indoor spaces with good air exchange usually vary between 400 and 1,000 ppm. However, in heavily occupied spaces, it can be 1,000-2,000 ppm, which often results in people complaining of drowsiness and poor air quality. Headaches, loss of attention, increased heart rate and slight nausea are usually the symptoms when CO2 levels get to 2,000-5,000 ppm. In an urban background location in Doha, QEERI’s air quality monitoring station showed an observed monthly average CO2 concentration of 475 ppm during May 2019. Rising outdoor CO2 levels result in rising indoor concentrations as well, due to the use of air conditioning systems. In most industrialized countries around the world, people spend 80-90% of their time indoors while vulnerable populations (children and the elderly) can spend even days in indoor spaces. In the state of Qatar, this is even more intense due to the high temperatures during the extended summer season. The cluster project offers a holistic approach to carbon management, including the development of effective CO2 capture technologies from the atmosphere; development of innovative electron-mediating materials and the implementation of effective electrochemical technology to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into high-value chemicals; and development of business plan and carbon management policies for Qatar. The main expected outcome of the cluster is the development and optimization of a large-scale demonstration system for carbon capture and utilization. The aim is to improve indoor air quality by capturing 1 kg/h of CO2 and converting it into Formic acid. The cluster is grouped into three sub-areas: CO2 Capture; CO2 Utilization; and Business plan, LCA, LCC and policies, which are divided into five sub-projects.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)