![]() ![]() What sets DAC apart is that it stores CO2 permanently, right where it was captured. Each method has its unique benefits and challenges. Various CDR methods-planting trees, improving soil management, preventing biomass decay, and reacting seawater with abundant minerals-can help remove CO2 from the atmosphere. CDR is not a single technology, but rather a suite of measures that include nature-based methods found in the soil, ocean, and trees as well as technological approaches like DAC. So, what exactly is CDR? CDR refers to methods that remove carbon dioxide from the open atmosphere, not from an emissions source (such as carbon capture and sequestration, also known as CCS). And there is a growing consensus among experts that limiting warming to safe temperatures is virtually impossible without CDR methods (including DAC). But two things can be true: We can and must replace fossil fuels with clean energy sources as quickly as possible. Some worry carbon removal solutions like DAC will slow down the clean energy transition and prolong fossil fuel use. How is DAC different from Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)? The program also provides support to less mature DAC companies, assisting them in the early stages of technology scaling. By sharing infrastructure, these companies can scale their technology more rapidly and cost-effectively. These hubs are designed to foster innovation by bringing together multiple DAC companies within the same facility. The Direct Air Capture Hubs program, funded with $3.5 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, aims to establish four regional “hubs” for the removal of up to 1 million tons of CO2 per year using DAC technology. Perhaps most importantly, in August 2023, the US Department of Energy (DOE) awarded Direct Air Capture Hub awards to help scale this key technology. More recently, Microsoft signed a deal to purchase 315,000 metric tons of CO2 removed by Heirloom, estimated at around $200M. In 2022, Climeworks raised the largest-ever DAC investment, equivalent to $650 million. The US has also invited countries to participate in the Carbon Management Challenge, a global effort to accelerate the deployment of carbon management technologies. In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act enacted a tax credit (45Q) that provides a substantial $180/ton for DAC with permanent CO2 storage. Fortunately, the United States is taking a leading role. To meet our climate goals, DAC must be a global priority given its importance in addressing legacy emissions – not just avoiding future ones. Partnerships, funding opportunities, investments, and deployment are on the rise. The CO2 is then permanently and safely stored deep underground, or used in various applications, like injecting it into concrete where it can be kept stable. Once the sponge is saturated with CO2, it is “squeezed” by applying heat, volume, or electricity. DAC holds onto CO2 while allowing other chemicals to pass through. A DAC machine draws air in through large fans or direct contact with a special “sponge” material, which can be liquid or solid. Think of DAC as a waste management protocol for the atmosphere.ĭAC acts like a giant sponge, selectively capturing CO2. This makes DAC a critical tool in the effort to reduce the long-term global warming impacts that have already been “locked in” by past energy consumption and industrial activities. Unlike traditional carbon capture technologies that avoid emissions from fossil fuels at the point of combustion, we can use DAC to remove legacy emissions that are already in the atmosphere. What is direct air capture?ĭirect air capture is a remarkable technology that removes carbon dioxide directly from the air. ![]() But do you know what it is, how it works, and why it’s essential to meeting our global climate goals?Īs we approach COP28 and governments announce billions in funding for new DAC projects, I wanted to explain the purpose and potential of DAC, and why I believe it’s a necessary tool for fighting climate change. You’ve probably heard of direct air capture (DAC). ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |