WDIC: Carbon Removal

Since recently, I have paid way more attention to “greenness” and alternative energy sources, and one of the key discoveries in the field in the last decade is the concept of “carbon removal” — the idea that CO2 can be extracted from the atmosphere before it hits the ozone layer and generally makes our lives worse. Of course, it’s an important part of a life cycle, but generally, caring about CO2 levels is just about he best thing that we can do to ensure our safety from nature’s perspective at this point.#

So what are we talking

Carbon removal is the process of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. There are a variety of methods that can be used to remove carbon, including direct air capture, bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), enhanced weathering, ocean fertilization, and reforestation. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, and there is no one “best” solution for carbon removal. The most effective approach will likely involve a combination of several different methods.

Direct air capture is a technology that can be used to remove carbon dioxide directly from the air. It works by passing air through a filter that captures the CO2 molecules. The captured CO2 can then be stored underground or used to make other products. Direct air capture is still in the early stages of development and is currently very expensive. However, it has the potential to become more cost-effective in the future as technology improves.

Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) involves using biomass to generate energy, while also capturing and storing the resulting carbon dioxide emissions. The captured CO2 can be stored underground or used in other industrial processes. BECCS could potentially be used on a large scale to help reduce atmospheric CO2 levels. However, it faces challenges such as high costs and land requirements.

Enhanced weathering is a natural process that occurs when rocks and minerals interact with rainwater and sunlight to release nutrients into the soil. This process can be accelerated by crushing rocks and spreading them over large areas of land. Enhanced weathering has been shown to remove significant amounts of atmospheric CO2, but it is not yet clear if it can be done at a large enough scale to make a dent in global emissions levels.

Ocean fertilization refers to adding nutrients to the ocean in order to promote the growth of marine plants, which absorb atmospheric CO2 as they grow. This technique has been criticized due to concerns about its environmental impacts, but some studies have suggested that it could be effective at removing large quantities of CO2 from the atmosphere if done properly.

Reforestation involves planting trees in areas where forests have been cleared or degraded. Trees absorb atmospheric CO2 as they grow, so reforestation can help reduce greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere over time. Reforestation projects often require a significant upfront investment but can provide long-term environmental benefits.

Each of the methods has its own advantages and own problems with the technological, financial and other aspects, but generally, this is where we’re standing in the fight against carbon.

So who’s in the biz

There are a number of companies that excel in the field of carbon removal. Among these are Carbon Engineering, Climeworks, and Global Thermostat. Each of these companies has developed innovative technologies for capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2).

Carbon Engineering is a Canadian company that has developed a technology called Direct Air Capture (DAC). DAC involves using giant fans to draw air into a filter system where the CO2 is captured. The captured CO2 can then be stored underground or used to make other products. Carbon Engineering is currently piloting its DAC technology at a plant in Squamish, British Columbia.

Climeworks is a Swiss company that has developed a technology called Atmospheric CO2 Removal (ACR). ACR works by using giant Fans to draw air into a filter system where the CO2 is captured. Same as in the CE case, it can be used later for a variety of products. Climeworks is currently piloting its ACR technology at a plant in Zurich, Switzerland.

Global Thermostat is an American company that has developed a technology called Air-To-Fuel Conversion (AFCC). AFCC involves using atmospheric CO2 to produce synthetic fuels. Global Thermostat’s AFCC technology is currently being piloted at a plant in Huntsville, Alabama.

Home reading

There’s a good list of works that can be read on the topic if you feel like it. here’s what I found exciting and got advised by some of my more educated friends:

1. “A guide to Carbon Removal” by David Keith and Alex Trembath
2. “The Negative Emissions Economy” by Gernot Wagner and Martin Lucht
3. “Carbon Dioxide Removal and Climate Change Mitigation: Costs, Opportunities, and Implications for the United States” by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
4. “Direct Air Capture of CO₂” by Energy Innovation
5. “BECCS — Biomass with Carbon Capture and Storage” by International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
6. “Carbon removal 101: how to take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere — in one graphic” by Dana Nuccitelli
7. “Costs and Potential of Direct Air Capture of CO₂ with Chemical Looping Combustion Technology” by Stolaroff et al.
8. “Alkaline electrolysis for carbon-neutral hydrogen production from biomass derivatives via chemical looping” by Tan et al.
9. “The role of enhanced weathering in global climate change mitigation” by Gibbs et al