REPAIR: Removing non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions to support ambitious climate transitions
The REPAIR project aims to develop and implement technologies that remove non-CO₂ greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and make the agricultural sector more sustainable. Removal of the potent non-CO₂ greenhouse gases, methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) can mitigate global warming.
Non-CO2 greenhouse gases contribute 28% of global human-made emissions, with methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) being significant contributors. These gases are particularly challenging to reduce because they come from a wide range of sources, such as agriculture (livestock and farming), and exist in very low concentrations in the atmosphere (parts per million or billion). This makes capturing and mitigating them a complex task.
However, reducing these gases is crucial for accelerating the EU’s transition to a net-zero greenhouse gas economy by 2050 and achieving sustainable negative emissions afterward. The REPAIR project is developing innovative technologies to tackle this issue by removing non-CO2 gases, like CH4 and N2O, from diluted sources, including the atmosphere.
Two approaches
The project proposes two main approaches: Capture, Concentration, and Storage/Conversion, and Direct Catalytic Conversion. These processes can be integrated with existing methods like direct air capture to target multiple greenhouse gases—methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide—within a single, energy-efficient system.
The potential of these technologies will be assessed through technoeconomic analysis, scenario-based assessments to evaluate climate impact, and impact case studies in the agricultural sector. The results will help determine the feasibility of scaling up the technology for agricultural use by 2035 and provide critical insights for the European Commission in shaping future regulations on non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with the EU’s "Fit for 55" plan.With a strong consortium of experts from around Europe, the REPAIR project is poised to develop breakthrough technologies that can make significant contributions toward climate neutrality and deliver both environmental and socio-economic benefits.
The project is funded by the European Union and runs from 2022 to 2026.
