Fossil fuels remain the largest contributor to global air pollution. As we know, the releasing of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is a major contributor to climate change and degrading air quality.
Our emissions continue to outpace natural carbon sinks. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report warns that global greenhouse gas emissions must be halved within the next decade and reach net zero by 2050 to keep global warming within 1.5°C.
Direct air capture is tackling pollution by removing carbon already in the air. Climeworks is a company leading this field. They’ve created a unique and innovative solution that some are calling the world’s largest “vacuum”.
Their creation is the “Mammoth” plant in Iceland, designed to capture carbon from the atmosphere and store it underground.
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What is Direct Air Capture (DAC)
DAC sucks in air and extracts carbon using chemicals. Huge fans take in the air, which passes through a filter. The carbon filtered out can then be injected deep underground or reused.
Climeworks plans to transport the carbon underground, where it will naturally transform into stone, locking up the carbon permanently.
Direct Air Capture Tackling Pollution: Step-by-Step
DAC tackles pollution by removing carbon dioxide (CO₂) directly from the atmosphere and storing it safely underground.
- Large fans pull surrounding air into collector units.
- Inside each collector is a special filter designed to trap CO₂.
- The filter absorbs carbon dioxide from the air.
- Once the filter is full, the collector is sealed.
- The collector is heated.
- The heat releases the captured CO₂ in a concentrated form so it can be gathered.
- The captured gas is mixed with water.
- It is pumped deep underground.
- Underground, the CO₂ reacts with porous basalt rock.
- Over time, it forms solid carbonate minerals.
- This locks the carbon away safely for thousands of years.
Impact of the Mammoth Plant
One question you may have is how the Mammoth plant can run without contributing to air pollution. This is where Iceland’s unique geography comes into play. The plant uses Iceland’s geothermal energy to power its operations. Renewable electricity comes from the Hellisheiði power station, run by ON Power.
Mammoth will be able to take 36,000 tons of carbon out of the atmosphere each year. That’s equivalent to taking around 7,800 petrol-powered cars off the road for a year. But this is still a small fraction of what’s needed.
The total removal capacity of the world’s current carbon removal equipment is only around 0.01 million metric tons of carbon a year. This is far off the 70 million tons a year needed by 2030 to meet global climate goals.
Jan Wurzbacher, Climeworks’ co-founder and co-CEO, said Mammoth is just the latest stage in Climeworks’ plan. They hope to scale up to 1 million tons of carbon removal a year by 2030 and 1 billion tons by 2050.
Importance of Clean Air
Removing carbon from the atmosphere is an important step in tackling the effects of fossil fuel pollution and global warming. Technologies like Climeworks’ Mammoth plant shows the potential of direct air capture tackling pollution. But low-tech options may be better suited to certain situations, such as mass tree planting.
Understanding the air quality in your area is equally important. Being aware of local carbon levels and other pollutants can help you make informed decisions about solutions that are best for you.
At Southern Scientific, we provide advanced air monitoring services to track and understand air quality. Our accurate, easy-to-read results help identify pollution trends and support informed decisions. Our services support industries such as manufacturing, mining, and construction, farmers monitoring environmental impact, government agencies enforcing regulations, and research institutions studying environmental change.
Reduce health risks, improve environmental quality, and support broader efforts to reduce emissions by getting a quote today.
