Carbon capture technology, which captures carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the atmosphere and stores it underground, may seem like the perfect solution to climate change. However, despite its progress, it still faces many uncertainties.
IPCC member and carbon removal expert Oliver Geden highlights the evolving nature of this field, particularly direct air capture with carbon storage (DACCS).
“A small-scale DACCS ecosystem will become more diverse…but we don’t know exactly where this will lead,” Geden explains, pointing to the technology’s uncertain future in the broader context of climate change mitigation. is reflected.
The promise of the DACCS strategic approach
Direct atmospheric carbon capture and storage (DACCS) has emerged as a promising strategy to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. This innovative technology actively removes CO2 directly from the air, providing a potential solution to mitigating climate change.
How DACCS works
DACCS systems capture CO2 from the atmosphere using special filters or chemicals. These systems actively draw in air, separate CO2, and can be safely stored underground or utilized in a variety of industrial processes.
DACCS provides a more focused approach compared to other carbon capture methods by directly targeting CO2 in the atmosphere.
Advantages of DACCS
DACCS has several important advantages. First, it can be deployed in a variety of locations, not just at emission sources.
Second, DACCS has the potential to remove large amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere, making it a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.
Additionally, the captured CO2 can be used for a variety of applications, including enhanced oil recovery and the production of low-carbon fuels and materials.
Challenges and future prospects
Despite its promise, DACCS currently faces cost and scalability challenges. Researchers and companies are actively working to improve the efficiency and economics of DACCS systems. As technology advances and economies of scale are achieved, DACCS is expected to play an increasingly important role in global carbon capture efforts.
Carbon capture technology in climate models
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has included carbon capture and storage (CCS) in its portfolio of strategies to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels. However, this technology is not at the forefront of climate action models.
This suggests that relying heavily on this technology without fully understanding its broader implications requires a cautious approach.
Significant investment in carbon capture technology
The high cost has not deterred major companies from working on carbon capture technology.
Companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, Airbus and even Lego are investing heavily, paying around $1,000 for every ton of carbon dioxide captured and stored.
These investments are often made in the form of carbon credits and are part of a strategy to offset emissions.
How carbon capture technology works
The process involves using large fans to capture CO2 molecules from the air. These molecules are absorbed by liquid or solid filters.
Once the filter is saturated, it heats up and releases pure CO2. This step is energy-intensive and requires temperatures of up to 120 °C for solid filters and up to 900 °C for liquid filters.
This released CO2 is compressed and injected into underground rock formations for long-term storage. The ability to scale up this technology is highly dependent on the availability of renewable energy sources to minimize environmental impact.
Environmental and economic challenges
Although the chemical components of carbon capture technologies can be reused, the environmental impacts of large-scale production are largely unknown.
Additionally, the costs associated with direct air capture technologies are currently high, ranging from $600 to $1,000 per ton of CO2 captured.
These costs could be reduced from $100 to $300 in the future, making this technology more economically viable.
Current operations and future plans
Currently, only a few commercial carbon capture facilities are in operation, such as Orca in Iceland, which captures approximately 4,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. While this may seem important, it pales in comparison to global emissions.
According to the University of Oxford, around 2 billion tonnes of CO2 is emitted each year, mainly through natural processes such as tree planting, compared to 40 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide.
Nearly 30 carbon capture projects will be launched in various countries, aiming to store nearly 10 million tons of CO2 by 2030.
However, scaling up projects with carbon capture technology requires securing adequate funding, a challenge that has hindered many potential initiatives.
Ruling on the future of carbon capture
Despite the challenges, interest and development in this field is rapidly increasing. Geden noted the significant growth of startups in this space. But he also warned that Oxy Petroleum's recent $1.1 billion acquisition of pioneering company Carbon Engineering could prompt major oil companies to shift their focus from storage to more profitable reuse applications.
In summary, carbon capture technologies have potential, but their success and impact will depend on overcoming significant technical, environmental, and economic hurdles. Efforts to integrate carbon capture into broader climate strategies are still in their infancy, and many milestones remain to be achieved.
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