Atmospheric carbon capture costs underestimated

Published in Chemistry World, 6 Dec 2011

Capturing carbon dioxide from the air to mitigate climate change is likely to be too expensive to be practical, a new study suggests. The study, which has examined the thermodynamics of different carbon-capture methods, implies that removing a tonne of CO₂ from the atmosphere will cost in the region of $1000 (£640).

Carbon capture is one of the most popular ideas to combat climate change. The process can either be performed at large ‘point sources’ like fossil-fuel power plants, which emit high concentrations of CO₂, or indeed anywhere to reduce atmospheric CO₂ levels. Once the CO₂ is captured, it must be purified and stored so it can no longer have an effect on the climate. […]

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