It is the second commercial DAC+S facility of Swiss Company Climeworks and is much larger than its predecessor Orca.
DAC+S Technology
- A Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technology that captures CO2 directly from the atmosphere at any location.
- It is distinct from carbon capture which is generally carried out at the point of emissions.
- CO2 can be permanently stored in deep geological formations (DAC+S) or used for various applications.
About CDR
- CDR refers to anthropogenic activities that remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it durably in geological, terrestrial, or ocean reservoirs.
- According to the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, CDR is necessary element to achieve net-zero CO2 and GHG emissions.
Other CDR technologies
- Afforestation/Reforestation and Soil Carbon Sequestration: Fixing atmospheric carbon in biomass and soils.
- Enhanced Weathering: Mining of rocks containing minerals that naturally absorb CO2.
- Ocean-based CDR: Ocean fertilization (adding nutrients to upper layers), ocean alkalinity enhancement (transformation of CO2 as bicarbonate/carbonate), coastal blue carbon management, etc.
- Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS): Using biomass as energy for CDR and storing biogenic carbon geologically.
Challenges in CDR
Higher energy needs and costs, Air Pollution (through Mining), Significant land and water demand, ocean acidification, etc.