Carbon Capture Tech Takes Flight at Dublin Airport
A team of engineers from Trinity College Dublin has taken a bold step toward cleaner skies, launching a first-of-its-kind field test for a revolutionary carbon capture technology, right at Dublin Airport.
In a move that could transform the aviation and e-fuels sectors, researchers are now trialling their system at industrial scale, capturing CO₂ emissions directly at the source. This isn’t just a lab prototype, it’s real-world application, right where the carbon is.
“This is a huge milestone,” said project lead Professor James Carton. “Aviation is notoriously hard to decarbonise, but we believe this tech can play a major role in capturing emissions as they happen, reducing climate impact dramatically.”
Unlike traditional carbon capture systems, which are often bulky, energy-intensive or limited to industrial smokestacks, Trinity’s system uses lightweight, modular technology that can be deployed in high-traffic, distributed environments, like airports.
At Dublin Airport, the team is testing its ability to capture CO₂ from aircraft and ground support systems, storing it for later use or permanent sequestration. The system is designed to integrate with synthetic fuel production, potentially enabling a closed-loop cycle where carbon is reused rather than released.
The implications are massive. Aviation accounts for over 2 percent of global CO₂ emissions, and that number is projected to climb. While electric aircraft are still years away from scale, carbon capture offers a near-term fix to a pressing climate problem.
“This isn’t about offsetting, it’s about removing carbon at the point of emission,” Carton explained. “And it works.”
The test run will continue through 2025, with early data already showing promising capture rates and operational efficiency. If the system proves successful, it could be deployed at other international airports and industrial sites, creating a blueprint for real-world decarbonisation.
For an industry under pressure to clean up fast, Trinity’s project offers a rare combination of urgency, innovation and feasibility. The sky, it seems, may not be the limit after all.