Why is it in the news?
- Mammoth, hailed as the world’s largest Direct Air Capture and Storage (DAC+S) plant, has commenced its operational activities in Iceland.
More about the news
- Developed by Climeworks, a Swiss company at the forefront of carbon capture technology, Mammoth surpasses its predecessor, Orca, in size and capacity, marking a milestone in the advancement of DAC+S technology.
- DAC+S technology stands out for its ability to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the ambient air, distinguishing it from traditional carbon capture methods typically deployed at industrial emission sources.
- The captured CO2 can be permanently stored underground in deep geological formations or repurposed for various industrial applications, contributing to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies, of which DAC+S is a prominent example, play a crucial role in addressing climate change by removing CO2 from the atmosphere and sequestering it in geological, terrestrial, or oceanic reservoirs.
- As highlighted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, CDR technologies are indispensable in achieving global targets for net-zero CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions.
| Other CDR technologies
Afforestation/Reforestation and Soil Carbon Sequestration: · Planting trees (afforestation) or restoring forests (reforestation) to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. · Trees store carbon in their biomass and also contribute to soil carbon sequestration through leaf litter and root decomposition. · Soil carbon sequestration involves increasing organic carbon content in soils through practices like conservation agriculture, cover cropping, and agroforestry.
Enhanced Weathering: · Involves the accelerated breakdown of rocks containing minerals that naturally absorb CO2, such as olivine or basalt. · Crushed rocks are spread over large areas, increasing the surface area available for chemical weathering reactions that consume atmospheric CO2. · This process facilitates the formation of carbonate minerals, which store carbon over geological timescales.
Ocean-based CDR: · Ocean fertilization involves adding nutrients like iron or nitrogen to surface waters to stimulate phytoplankton growth, which in turn absorbs CO2 through photosynthesis. · Ocean alkalinity enhancement aims to increase the ocean’s capacity to store carbon by adding substances that increase alkalinity, such as lime or calcium hydroxide. · Coastal blue carbon management focuses on conserving and restoring coastal ecosystems like mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses, which sequester carbon in their biomass and sediment.
Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS): · Involves generating energy from biomass sources like wood, crops, or algae. · Carbon dioxide released during biomass combustion is captured and stored underground, preventing it from entering the atmosphere. · BECCS not only produces renewable energy but also achieves negative emissions by removing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it permanently.
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- However, the widespread adoption of CDR technologies faces significant challenges, including high energy requirements and costs, potential air pollution from mining activities associated with certain methods, substantial land and water resource demands, and concerns regarding ocean acidification stemming from certain ocean-based approaches.
