As that CO2 builds up, ittraps excess heatnear Earths surface, causing global warming.
Butnew techniquesare being tested this year that could help lower the energy demand and cost.
What is direct carbon removal and why is it considered necessary?
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That means pulling CO2 out of the air.
So we can place direct air capture technology right where we plan to use or store the CO2.
How direct air capture works.
The method of storage is also important.
Storing CO2 for just 60 years or 100 years isnt good enough.
In the meantime, the worlds energy consumption is growing at about2% per year.
Can that energy use be reduced?
There are ways to reduce energy demand for both.
For example, we stumbled into a material that attracts CO2 when its dry and releases it when wet.
We realized we could expose that material to wind and it would load up with CO2.
My lab is creating a method to do this, calledmechanical trees.
As the air blows through, the surfaces of the discs absorb CO2.
After 20 minutes or so, the discs are full, and they sink into a barrel below.
By using moisture, we can avoid about half the energy consumption and use renewable energy for the rest.
I started working on the concept of mineral sequestration in the 1990s, leading a group at Los Alamos.
When CO2 reacts with minerals that are rich in calcium,it forms solid carbonates.
Bymineralizing the CO2like this, wecan storea nearly unlimited amount of carbon permanently.
There are also huge underground reservoirs from oil production in the Permian Basin in Texas.
There are large saline aquifers.
The question is how much can be converted into proven reserve.
Right now, people use carbon from fossil fuels to extract energy.
A tankful of synfuel doesnt cost much, and its more cost-effective than a battery.
What has to happen to make that a reality?
DOE is scaring me because they make it sound like the technology is already ready.
We have to assume this is a nascent technology.
On the other hand, at $50 per ton, the world could do it.
I think we can get there.
The average price is $60-$150.
So below $100 you have a market.
Where do you see this technology going in 10 years?
Our recommendation is when carbon comes out of the ground, it should be matched with an equal removal.
A big unknown is how hard industry and society will push to become carbon neutral.
The first commercial jet was available in 1951.
By 1965 they were ubiquitous.
