Direct Air Capture - Current Approach
Oceanic absorption of CO2 is constantly occurring but the net effect of this is to make the ocean more acidic by the creation of carbonic acid in the oceans. Increases in oceanic pH could lead to a catastrophic collapse of the oceanic ecosystem.
Current carbon capture and sequestration systems all work by using large fans to suck air into their respective systems or by sucking carbon out of the air and storing the same within old disused undersea oil fields. These systems use renewable sources of energy to ensure that there is a net reduction in atmospheric CO2.
Currently, we are trying to limit CO2 emissions and accept 1.5 - 2oC increase in Global temperatures with the environmental and human impacts. Carbon Capture and Storage systems (CCS) to mitigate CO2 emissions. All of these solutions are capital intensive and only zero emission when attached to renewable energy sources or power stations as part of emission mitigation strategies.
Current DAC Systems
● DAC systems are still being explored and doesn’t have a huge presence in the UK.
● General market for DAC systems is still in the infancy stages.
● Current DAC systems use fans which make them not as efficient as they could be. Main area of production is North America.
● The technology is highly viewed by Government, Environmental NGO’s and Venture Capitalists to address
Global Issues.
Concerns of Current DAC Systems
Energy Intensive – requires significant amounts of energy to operate.
Cost – capture costs are higher than Carbon removal methods.
Scalability – what is being captured currently is not making a difference in climate change.
Resource Requirements – needs materials to absorb chemicals which can have further environmental impacts.
Carbon Off - set of Manufacturing –
production and installation can result in Carbon Emissions
Environmental Impact – capture &
disposal of chemicals is not benign.
There should be no deficit impact.