Could captureing carbon be an efficiant way to stop CO2?

Direct air capture (DAC) technology, like the Climeworks Mammoth plant in Iceland, provides an innovative approach to removing CO2 directly from the atmosphere, aiming to reduce global warming. Located near Reykjavik, this facility utilizes large fans to capture CO2, which is then stored underground in Iceland’s basalt rock, where it mineralizes into stone.

Mammoth, capable of removing 36,000 tons of CO2 annually, operates emissions-free, powered by geothermal energy. Climeworks believes DAC could become economically viable, with current costs around $1,000 per ton expected to drop to $300–$400 by the end of the decade through technological advancements and scaling. Climeworks has already secured major clients, including Microsoft and Lego, and offers carbon offsets to individual subscribers.

Critics point to DAC’s high costs, energy needs, and limited scale as obstacles, suggesting that capturing emissions directly at source points, like smokestacks, may be more effective. However, DAC supporters, including the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, believe it is part of a broader carbon reduction strategy.

With 27 DAC facilities globally and plans for 130 more, governments and companies are investing in the technology, underscoring DAC’s potential role in reaching future climate goals alongside traditional emissions reductions.