What exactly is live air capture?

The term direct air capture comes up again and again in discussions about measures against climate change. But what is actually behind this technology?

One term keeps popping up in discussions about climate protection: direct atmospheric capture (DAC). But what actually is that? DAC represents a mature technology aimed at removing carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the air. This method can help combat climate change by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

But how does direct air capture actually work? DAC uses chemical solutions or insoluble substances that can absorb and hold liquids (called sorbents) to absorb carbon dioxide from the air. When developing their systems, manufacturers differentiate between: Two main methods.

What is direct air capture?

With wet absorption, DAC systems use a liquid solution to absorb carbon dioxide. Dry absorption, on the other hand, is based on solids. Regardless of the method, the systems then extract carbon dioxide from these materials. It can then be stored or reused for industrial purposes.

DAC research aims to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of these systems. The technology's high power requirements remain a major point of criticism. Therefore, researchers and companies are working intensively to develop energy-efficient materials and processes to reduce costs and increase scalability.

Other measures in combating climate change are usually more effective

Some pilot projects, such as a facility Carbon Engineering in British Columbia (Canada) already demonstrates the technical feasibility of the DAC. The system can remove up to one ton of carbon dioxide from the air per day. There are similar projects in the United States and Europe. However, high costs and lack of efficiency have so far been an obstacle to expansion.

This is also demonstrated by comparison with other CO2 reduction methods, which are often much cheaper – such as renewable energies or increased energy efficiency. There is also the challenge of storing large amounts of carbon dioxide safely and permanently.

Despite many open questions, many experts see the DAC as an important part of the strategy to combat climate change. However, direct aerial capture remains just one page in a large catalog of climate and environmental protection.

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