Here are the benefits of Direct Air Capture (DAC):
The benefits of DAC
- Scalable: A huge benefit of carbon plants is that the technology can be scaled up or down, depending on the demand for carbon removal. This means that it can be used to address both small and large-scale carbon emissions. On top of that, CO₂ is in the air at the same concentration everywhere in the world, making DAC technologies beneficial to us all.
- Permanent or temporary carbon storage: The captured CO2 can be permanently stored underground for millions of years. However, this requires careful monitoring and management to ensure the carbon remains trapped underground and does not leak back into the air. Carbon can also be used for other purposes, such as enhanced oil recovery or the production of carbon-based products. This has proven to be a relatively safe process and a win-win situation, but eventually, the carbon will be released back into the atmosphere again, when those products are burned or otherwise used. Yet, while this does not provide permanent carbon removal, it can still help reduce overall carbon emissions by displacing fossil fuels.
- Highly measurable: Another benefit is that DAC technologies can measure the amount of carbon absorbed from the atmosphere. This way improvement and progress can be made, which makes it a great tool in terms of efficiency.
- Flexible: DAC plants can be deployed almost anywhere in the world, making them a flexible tool for carbon removal. As they do not need to be attached to an emissions source, they are only required to be placed near a renewable energy source and in a place where CO₂ can be stored.
- Carbon-neutral fuels: DAC can be used to produce carbon-neutral fuels, such as synthetic gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. DAC companies can sell the CO2 they removed from the atmosphere, to be used for long-lasting products like concrete. This can help reduce the carbon footprint of transportation and other industries that rely on fossil fuels.
- Reducing carbon emissions: DAC can help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which is a major contributor to climate change. By removing CO2 from the air, DAC can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Last note
Overall, there are several benefits of Direct Air Capture and the technology has the potential to play an important role in reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change. However, it is important to note that DAC is still a relatively new technology and is not yet cost-competitive with other carbon capture and storage methods.
In a future post, we will cover the cons of DAC, to paint a realistic picture of this promising technology.
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