How much does direct air capture cost
Direct Air Capture is currently categorized as “technology readiness level” 6 (on a scale of 1 to 9), meaning it’s still in the large-scale and prototype phase, not yet ready for full commercial deployment.
But this also means there’s ample opportunity to improve performance and reduce costs through learning from early iterations of the technology.
The cost of direct air capture is still a major obstacle. The costs are calculated per tonne of CO2 removed from the air, and the range of costs for Direct Air Capture vary between $250 and $600 today depending on the technology choice, low-carbon energy source, and the scale of their deployment; for comparison, most reforestation costs less than $50/tonne.
Despite its costs, Direct Air Capture is also energy intensive. In this section you can find the articles about DAC featured by The Hotpot. We explore the obstacles of DAC and lay out the pathways toward a world of zero emissions.
Sign up for the Hotpot or scroll through past editions in our archive.
Further reading:
- Which bacteria eat plastic?
- How is 3D printing changing the food industry?
- What are the solutions for the plastic in the environment?