Carbon-Capture Technology Is Scaling Up Faster Than Expected

Technology designed to pull carbon dioxide directly out of the atmosphere has moved from small pilot projects to considerably larger commercial-scale facilities, as governments and companies look for tools to address emissions that are difficult to eliminate through clean energy alone, such as those from heavy industry and aviation.

Direct air capture, the most prominent approach, still faces criticism over its high energy requirements and cost per ton of carbon removed compared to simply preventing emissions in the first place. Supporters argue the technology will become more affordable and efficient as it scales, similar to the cost declines seen in solar and wind power over the past two decades.

Government incentives and corporate carbon-offset purchases have provided much of the funding driving recent expansion, though questions remain about whether the technology can scale quickly enough to make a meaningful dent in global emissions within the timeframes climate scientists say are necessary.