Capturing Carbon Dioxide While Making Electricity with Hydrogen and Solar
This patent describes an integrated system that captures carbon dioxide from the air or industrial exhaust while simultaneously generating clean electricity using a hydrogen gas turbine powered by solar-generated hydrogen and oxygen, all without burning fossil fuels.
Original patent title: “Apparatuses and methods for carbon dioxide capturing and electrical energy producing system”
This patent describes an integrated system that captures carbon dioxide from the air or industrial exhaust while simultaneously generating clean electricity using a hydrogen gas turbine powered by solar-generated hydrogen and oxygen, all without burning fossil fuels. Granted to Individual in 2025 with 21 claims and 2 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2041.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This system combines four main parts to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) and make electricity at the same time. First, a 'non-ionized hydrogen gas turbine unit' generates power using hydrogen and oxygen gases, converting their chemical energy into electricity with high efficiency (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1a). Second, a 'carbon dioxide capturing system unit' pulls CO2 from the atmosphere or 'flue gases' (like exhaust from factories), using the clean electricity and waste heat produced by the system (Claim 1b). Third, a 'hybrid solar hydrogen-oxygen gas generator system unit' continuously makes the hydrogen and oxygen needed for the turbine, using renewable energy sources (Claim 1c). Finally, a 'waste recovery system unit' collects leftover heat from the turbine and CO2 capture process to power an additional steam turbine, boosting the total electricity output and making the system more efficient (Claim 1d). For example, exhaust heat from the hydrogen turbine helps power the CO2 absorption process.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover systems that generate electricity by burning fossil fuels or other hydrocarbons, as it explicitly states operation 'without utilizing hydrocarbons' (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover standalone carbon capture systems that are not integrated with an electrical energy generation system (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover hydrogen gas turbines that use ionized hydrogen or other fuel types, as it specifies a 'non-ionized hydrogen gas turbine unit' (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1a).
- Does not cover systems where the hydrogen and oxygen are produced solely from non-renewable sources or without a 'hybrid solar' component (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1c).
- Does not cover systems that do not use waste heat to power the carbon dioxide capturing process, as this integration is a key feature (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1b, 1d).
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The truly novel aspect is the tight integration and co-functioning of all four units: a non-ionized hydrogen turbine, a CO2 capture system, a solar hydrogen generator, and a waste heat recovery system. Powering the energy-intensive CO2 capture process directly with the waste heat from the hydrogen turbine and using solar to produce the hydrogen makes the entire system self-sustaining and carbon-neutral.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Future hydrogen power plants
Industrial carbon capture facilities
Large-scale renewable energy projects with integrated storage
Direct air capture facilities
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent addresses two major global challenges: climate change, by capturing CO2, and the need for clean energy, by generating electricity without carbon emissions. By integrating these functions, it aims to create a more efficient and sustainable approach than separate systems. This could be important for industries looking to reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining or increasing energy production.
Filed
May 25, 2021
Granted
June 10, 2025
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more → is an individual inventorinventorThe person who actually conceived the invention. Listed on the patent regardless of who owns it.Read more →, Solomon Alema Asfha. Companies like Carbon Engineering, Climeworks, and Global Thermostat are active in direct air capture. Major energy companies such as Siemens Energy, Mitsubishi Power, and General Electric are developing hydrogen gas turbines. Electrolysis companies like Nel Hydrogen and ITM Power are advancing hydrogen-oxygen generation. These players are all working on components or integrated solutions related to the technologies described in this patent.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the growing field of integrated carbon capture and clean energy solutions. If successfully implemented, such systems could reduce the energy penalty typically associated with carbon capture, making it more economically viable. This could accelerate the decarbonization of heavy industries and power generation, potentially creating new market segments for combined energy and environmental technologies. It aims to offer a dual solution that could influence future energy infrastructure development.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This system combines four main parts to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) and make electricity at the same time. First, a 'non-ionized hydrogen gas turbine unit' generates power using hydrogen and oxygen gases, converting their chemical energy into electricity with high efficiency (Claim 1a). Second, a 'carbon dioxide capturing system unit' pulls CO2 from the atmosphere or 'flue gases' (like exhaust from factories), using the clean electricity and waste heat produced by the system (Claim 1b). Third, a 'hybrid solar hydrogen-oxygen gas generator system unit' continuously makes the hydrogen and oxygen needed for the turbine, using renewable energy sources (Claim 1c). Finally, a 'waste recovery system unit' collects leftover heat from the turbine and CO2 capture process to power an additional steam turbine, boosting the total electricity output and making the system more efficient (Claim 1d). For example, exhaust heat from the hydrogen turbine helps power the CO2 absorption process.
The clever bit
The truly novel aspect is the tight integration and co-functioning of all four units: a non-ionized hydrogen turbine, a CO2 capture system, a solar hydrogen generator, and a waste heat recovery system. Powering the energy-intensive CO2 capture process directly with the waste heat from the hydrogen turbine and using solar to produce the hydrogen makes the entire system self-sustaining and carbon-neutral.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover systems that generate electricity by burning fossil fuels or other hydrocarbons, as it explicitly states operation 'without utilizing hydrocarbons' (Claim 1).
- Does not cover standalone carbon capture systems that are not integrated with an electrical energy generation system (Claim 1).
- Does not cover hydrogen gas turbines that use ionized hydrogen or other fuel types, as it specifies a 'non-ionized hydrogen gas turbine unit' (Claim 1a).
- Does not cover systems where the hydrogen and oxygen are produced solely from non-renewable sources or without a 'hybrid solar' component (Claim 1c).
- Does not cover systems that do not use waste heat to power the carbon dioxide capturing process, as this integration is a key feature (Claim 1b, 1d).
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
10/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
14/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$140K – $449K
Midpoint $281K · 14.9 yr remaining · industry ×2.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Patent Claims
0 independent claims · 1 dependent
Claims are the legal boundaries of the patent. An independent claim stands alone. A dependent claim adds limitations to its parent, narrowing — but not broadening — the scope.
The original legal language
Original claims
21 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Asfha, S. A. (2025). Capturing Carbon Dioxide While Making Electricity with Hydrogen and Solar (U.S. Patent No. 12,327,854). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12327854/apparatuses-and-methods-for-carbon-dioxide-capturing-and-electrical-energy-produ
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Capturing Carbon Dioxide While Making Electricity with Hydrogen and Solar cover?
This patent describes an integrated system that captures carbon dioxide from the air or industrial exhaust while simultaneously generating clean electricity using a hydrogen gas turbine powered by solar-generated hydrogen and oxygen, all without burning fossil fuels.
Who owns patent US 12327854?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 2025.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on May 25, 2041, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 12327854 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent addresses two major global challenges: climate change, by capturing CO2, and the need for clean energy, by generating electricity without carbon emissions. By integrating these functions, it aims to create a more efficient and sustainable approach than separate systems. This could be important for industries looking to reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining or increasing energy production.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover systems that generate electricity by burning fossil fuels or other hydrocarbons, as it explicitly states operation 'without utilizing hydrocarbons' (Claim 1).
Same assignee
More from Individual
Patent monitoring