Carbon capture solutions have been a subject of interest in the fight against climate change. By removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, these technologies play a crucial role in mitigating the effect of greenhouse gases on the environment. However, the success of carbon capture solutions is determined not only by their effectiveness but also by their scalability. Learn more about the scalability of various carbon capture technologies and delve into the factors that may influence their widespread adoption and potential barriers to large-scale implementation.
Different carbon capture solutions and their scalability
As we face the threat of climate change, it has become crucial that we find ways to reduce our carbon emissions. One way to do so is through carbon capture solutions, which could help us capture the carbon dioxide (CO2) that is being released into the atmosphere.
These technologies have the potential to significantly reduce our carbon footprint, but to truly make a difference, it needs to be scalable. But how does this scalability work? To begin understanding it, it’s necessary to learn the specifics of each carbon capture solution.
There are various carbon capture solutions available nowadays, so let’s review some of the more promising.
– Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW)
Enhanced Rock Weathering or ERW is one of the most promising carbon capture solutions, being cost effective and not only has potential to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but also to improve soil quality and fertility.
To summarize, it utilizes mineral rocks, such as glauconite, serpentine, olivine, basalt and others. They are crushed and then spread over terrestrial or aquatic surfaces.
This leads to an exposure to CO2 in the atmosphere, which reacts with minerals that converts CO2 to bicarbonate, allowing it to dissolve and subsequently turn into carbonates, and deposit carbon in the ocean’s sediments. This helps to reduce ocean acidification as well as increase nutrient rates on the soil, making it more fertile.
As for scalability, ERW has a lot of potential. In 2020, for example, a study published in Nature concluded that China, India, the United States and Brazil have great potential for using ERW to remove between 0.5 to 2 gigatons of CO2 from the atmosphere annually. This is paired with a great cost-benefit, since this can be achieved at a cost between $8 to $180 per ton.
– Direct Air Capture (DAC)
Another promising carbon capture solution is called direct air capture (DAC). As the name suggests, DAC involves capturing CO2 directly from the air. Although DAC is a relatively new technology, recent developments suggest its scalability is possible.
A recent research paper titled “The Role of Direct Air Capture in Mitigating Climate Change” argues that DAC can potentially remove up to 20 billion tonnes of CO2 per year if properly implemented.
However, the paper raises concerns about the scalability of DAC due to its high cost and energy demand.
– Bioenergy With Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)
Another carbon capture technology that has gained traction in recent years is called bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). BECCS involves capturing CO2 that is produced during the process of generating electricity using biomass.
The captured CO2 is then stored underground. Although BECCS is still in its early stages of development, estimates suggest that it has the potential to remove up to 10 billion tonnes of CO2 per year.
Despite its potential, BECCS’s scalability is also a major concern due to the availability of biomass feedstock, which may limit its widespread adoption.
– Ocean fertilization
Ocean fertilization is yet another carbon capture solution that has potential to be utilized to mitigate climate change. Ocean fertilization involves adding nutrients to the ocean to increase the growth of phytoplankton.
Phytoplankton absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere during the process of photosynthesis. The absorbed CO2 is then transported to the deep ocean.
Although ocean fertilization offers a natural and potentially low-cost method of carbon capture, its scalability is limited to the growth rate of phytoplankton and the availability of nutrients.
Furthermore, ocean fertilization is still in the early research phase, and its effectiveness in mitigating climate change is yet to be fully researched and documented.
– Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
A more conventional carbon capture technology involves capturing CO2 at the source of emission, such as power plants and industrial facilities. This technology is called carbon capture and storage (CCS).
CCS has been in development for many years, and significant progress has been made in making it more scalable.
However, several factors, such as high capital costs, energy demands, and the availability of storage sites, have limited its widespread adoption. Estimates suggest that CCS can potentially remove up to 4.5 billion tonnes of CO2 per year globally.
Carbon capture solutions are powerful tools to help mitigate climate change, but their scalability needs to be studied and improved
To resume, the scalability of carbon capture solutions is a crucial factor in their success in mitigating the effect of greenhouse gases on the environment.
In this context, Enhanced Rock Weathering, direct air capture, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, ocean fertilization, and carbon capture and storage are promising carbon capture solutions with varying levels of scalability.
While these technologies offer a glimpse of hope in fighting climate change, several factors such as high capital costs, energy demands, the availability of storage sites and nutrients, and the availability of biomass feedstocks may hinder their widespread adoption and implementation.
Moving forward, more investments in research and development are necessary to improve the scalability and effectiveness of carbon capture technologies.
