Many environmentalists believe that the dangers of speeding up the process of global warming can be avoided by reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. But some experts argue that if this is even the case, then implementing the idea is difficult - the process turns out to be too expensive.
However, now there are other opinions. In particular, the results of an analysis of the process of extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,
published in the journal Joule, show that the price is not so high. According to the authors of the study, the price of a ton of carbon extracted from the air will be from $ 94 to $ 232 per ton. Moreover, the technologies that are required for the purification of atmospheric air already exist and need only be made commercially suitable.
Previously, other researchers claimed that the price of a ton of carbon dioxide “extracted” from the air
would be very high - $ 1,000 or even more. The study was published in Proceedings of the National Academies.
As far as can be judged, the extraction of CO
2 from the air is quite possible to make a commercially viable process. Provided, however, a certain modification of the whole chain of gas extraction from the atmosphere, so that the production of carbon dioxide was as inexpensive as possible. Extracted CO
2 is planned to be pumped into huge underground storage facilities, and then used for various purposes.
The most important thing to remember here is that the goal of the whole project is to help the environment, not to get money. If the current rate of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere is the same as now or even higher, then the temperature will rise by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. And soon the process may become
irreversible , if not yet. Reducing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is a very urgent task for the near future. Otherwise, the greenhouse effect will have a very strong impact on the planet, the effect will be long, thousands of years and more.
David Kate, a professor of physics from Harvard and the head of the study, argues that the necessary systems can already be built, technologies exist.
The scientist knows what he is talking about - he has been studying the issue of reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere for a long time. He is also the founder of Carbon Engineering, which has been working for about nine years to create an industrial installation to “suck” carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Now the test unit is built in British Columbia. The project is partly funded by the US Department of Energy.
Kate hopes that his project will show the world community a way to reverse or at least stop global warming, at least in the long term.
The cost of exhausting CO
2 from the atmosphere with the subsequent storage of trapped gas was calculated by few scientists. The main influence on the opinion of the scientific community about the cost of the process had
two papers published in 2011.
Nevertheless, the authors of the work, where it was said about $ 1000 per ton of carbon dioxide, when it is “extracted” from the atmosphere, are ready to accept with pleasure the results of calculations of other scientists. But some scientists show doubt that carbon dioxide can be extracted at a price of $ 100 or even $ 200. They believe that the model is good, but if you build a real factory to get CO
2 from the air, the costs will be much higher. According to experts, additional costs will inevitably appear.
“Until you can show the costs of an industrial facility, you cannot consider your conclusions realistic. I believe that the real cost of technology is several times higher, ”said Howard Herzog, the author of the study, which indicated a price of $ 1,000.
Yet there is room for maneuver for CO
2 extraction enthusiasts - if something turns out to be too expensive, you can find an alternative. Instead of vertical use horizontal storage, use cheaper energy, etc.
Carbon Engineering is planning to create a new type of fuel, combining the captured carbon with hydrogen. Representatives of the company say that they have already created the technology for producing such fuel and everything works as it was intended. True, synthetic fuel is more expensive than regular gasoline. So the question of the market remains open.
At the moment, Carbon Engineering has received about $ 30 million for its research. She is now looking for additional sources of funding, hoping to build a larger CO
2- catching factory.