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Pulling Carbon From the Sky: A Pricey Climate Solution

Oct 11, 2023
Sharon Mustri and Brenna Casey discuss direct air capture (DAC), its cost, and carbon removal methods. They explore the companies investing in DAC, carbon storage, and the future outlook for this technology. This episode provides insights from BNEF's research note on DAC and its market through 2050.
42:59

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Direct air capture (DAC) is a technology that involves removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which is increasingly becoming a reality with clean tech companies pioneering the technology and larger companies investing in it to reach their net zero targets.
  • One of the major challenges of DAC is the high cost that needs to be brought down for scalability, while other considerations include the availability of 24/7 clean power, finding safer chemicals for DAC, and the use of land for DAC plants.

Deep dives

Direct Air Capture: Sucking Carbon Out of the Air

Direct air capture (DAC) is a technology that involves removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. DAC is increasingly becoming a reality, with clean tech companies pioneering the technology. Larger companies are also investing in DAC to reach their net zero targets. However, the cost of DAC is currently high, with prices averaging above $1,000 per ton of carbon removed. The market for DAC is dominated by a few major players, and significant funding is required to scale up the technology. There is potential for DAC to be used in hard-to-abate sectors like aviation and cement, but it is seen as a last resort for carbon removal, not a complete solution.

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