What you need to know about carbon removal
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Every carbon removal approach takes some combination of natural resources, human ingenuity and technology, says climate thinker Gabrielle Walker. If we get the mix right, we can clean up the environmental mess we've made, reverse the processes behind climate change and give nature a chance to heal. "What goes up must now come down."
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Biochar
Biochar is exciting as a carbon capture method because it not only captures carbon from the atmosphere, but it also provides a sustainable way to improve soil health and sequester carbon in the soil for centuries. When biomass is burned at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, it produces biochar, a stable form of carbon that can be added to soil as a soil amendment. Biochar has a high surface area and can hold water, nutrients, and microorganisms, improving soil fertility and water retention. By storing carbon in the soil, biochar helps to mitigate climate change while also providing numerous benefits for agriculture and the environment.
Basalt
Basalt is a volcanic rock that can help capture carbon through a process called mineral carbonation. Mineral carbonation is a natural process that occurs over millions of years where carbon dioxide reacts with minerals in rocks to form stable carbonate minerals, effectively removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Basalt contains minerals that react with carbon dioxide, such as calcium, magnesium, and iron, making it an ideal candidate for carbon capture. When basalt is crushed into small particles and spread over land or exposed to carbon dioxide-rich water, the minerals react with the carbon dioxide to form stable carbonate minerals, effectively capturing carbon. Basaltic minerals can also act as a long-term carbon storage mechanism, sequestering carbon for thousands of years, making it a promising solution for mitigating climate change.
Direct Air Capture
Climeworks and Carbfix are two companies working on carbon capture powered by renewable energy.
Direct air capture (DAC) is a technology that uses chemical processes to remove carbon dioxide from the air. This technology can be powered by renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal power. Using renewable energy to power DAC systems is crucial for several reasons. First, it allows DAC to operate without generating additional greenhouse gas emissions, reducing the overall carbon footprint of the process. Second, using renewable energy sources to power DAC reduces the cost of capturing carbon, making it a more economically feasible solution for mitigating climate change. Finally, using renewable energy sources to power DAC systems enables the technology to be deployed in remote areas where traditional power sources are not available, allowing for greater flexibility in carbon capture and storage strategies. Overall, using renewable energy to power DAC is an important step towards achieving a carbon-neutral economy and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
Biochar is exciting as a carbon capture method because it not only captures carbon from the atmosphere, but it also provides a sustainable way to improve soil health and sequester carbon in the soil for centuries. When biomass is burned at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, it produces biochar, a stable form of carbon that can be added to soil as a soil amendment. Biochar has a high surface area and can hold water, nutrients, and microorganisms, improving soil fertility and water retention. By storing carbon in the soil, biochar helps to mitigate climate change while also providing numerous benefits for agriculture and the environment.
Basalt
Basalt is a volcanic rock that can help capture carbon through a process called mineral carbonation. Mineral carbonation is a natural process that occurs over millions of years where carbon dioxide reacts with minerals in rocks to form stable carbonate minerals, effectively removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Basalt contains minerals that react with carbon dioxide, such as calcium, magnesium, and iron, making it an ideal candidate for carbon capture. When basalt is crushed into small particles and spread over land or exposed to carbon dioxide-rich water, the minerals react with the carbon dioxide to form stable carbonate minerals, effectively capturing carbon. Basaltic minerals can also act as a long-term carbon storage mechanism, sequestering carbon for thousands of years, making it a promising solution for mitigating climate change.
Direct Air Capture
Climeworks and Carbfix are two companies working on carbon capture powered by renewable energy.
Direct air capture (DAC) is a technology that uses chemical processes to remove carbon dioxide from the air. This technology can be powered by renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal power. Using renewable energy to power DAC systems is crucial for several reasons. First, it allows DAC to operate without generating additional greenhouse gas emissions, reducing the overall carbon footprint of the process. Second, using renewable energy sources to power DAC reduces the cost of capturing carbon, making it a more economically feasible solution for mitigating climate change. Finally, using renewable energy sources to power DAC systems enables the technology to be deployed in remote areas where traditional power sources are not available, allowing for greater flexibility in carbon capture and storage strategies. Overall, using renewable energy to power DAC is an important step towards achieving a carbon-neutral economy and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
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