Scaling Direct Air Capture (DAC): A moonshot or the sky’s the limit?
Direct Air Capture (‘DAC’) technology coupled with geological Carbon Storage (‘DACS’, also ‘DACCS’) has
recently emerged as one of the main CDR options alongside bioenergy energy with carbon capture and
storage (BECCS), and Nature Based Solutions (NBS) such as afforestation and reforestation.
If deployed at scale, these removal solutions would result in ‘negative emissions’ which would preclude the need for
riskier options to abate emissions, such as geo-engineering solutions. In this context, DAC/DACS need to
be adopted in addition to existing decarbonisation efforts, including carbon capture and storage (CCS) from
point sources.
DAC may also be used to generate CO2 feedstock for applications that have not yet become
commercial at scale, including in chemicals, building materials, and synfuels production. Many believe
DACS is a measurable, safe, and secure way to achieve removals.
