Prats-Salvado et al. (2024): Solar-Powered Direct Air Capture: Techno-Economic and Environmental Assessment

Enric Prats-Salvado, Nipun Jagtap, Nathalie Monnerie, Christian Sattler IN: Environmental Science & Technology 58 (5), 2282-2292, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c08269

Direct air capture (DAC) of CO₂ has gained attention as a sustainable carbon source. One of the most promising technologies currently available is liquid solvent DAC (L-DAC), but the significant fraction of fossil CO₂ in the output stream hinders its utilization in carbon-neutral fuels and chemicals. This study proposes a solar-powered L-DAC approach and develops a model to assess the influence of the location and plant capacity on capture costs. The performed life cycle assessment enables the comparison of technologies based on net CO₂removal, demonstrating that solar-powered L-DAC is not only more environmentally friendly but also more cost-effective than conventional L-DAC.

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