Direct Air Capture: Challenges In An Evolving Industry

The United Nations has recognized that carbon capture and sequestration is a "key technology" in the quest to keep global temperatures from rising above the scientifically-accepted threshold of two degrees Celsius. One carbon capture method that is increasingly garnering attention is direct air capture ("DAC"). While DAC technology allows companies to permanently remove carbon dioxide ("CO2") from the atmosphere, companies seeking to bring the technology to scale must navigate significant legal challenges.

How DAC Works

Burning fossil fuels, such as coal, converts a storable form of carbon into energy, CO2, and several other byproducts. But, the process of converting CO2 gas back into a storable form of carbon is much more difficult. Flue gas scrubbers are one example of an early technology that removes CO2 from air. Flue gas scrubbers are built into the infrastructure of powerplants and remove various greenhouse gases, including CO2, from the powerplants'