Capturing carbon dioxide directly from the air: Practical yet costly in various locations
In a groundbreaking study, researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich have identified the most attractive locations for Direct Air Capture (DAC) facilities in Germany. The key factors considered include temperature, air humidity, and potential for wind and solar energy.
DAC technology, which captures CO2 directly from the air, is crucial for limiting climate change. However, its energy consumption varies depending on the chosen technology and location. The study reveals that coastal regions along the North Sea and Baltic Sea are most attractive due to their combination of moderate temperature, favourable humidity, and robust wind energy potential, especially offshore wind.
The renewable energy potential in Germany shows promising results. Southeastern coastal regions, such as those along the Baltic Sea coast, exhibit high wind energy near the coastline. Northwestern regions, on the other hand, are more favourable for solar energy due to better solar irradiance patterns.
Coastal areas like Bremerhaven (near Helgoland) with moderate maritime climate conditions offer balanced temperature and humidity conducive to efficient DAC operation. The H2Mare project near Helgoland, for instance, deploys a floating DAC system integrated with offshore wind energy, demonstrating successful CO2 extraction from sea air leveraging nearby wind resources and desalinated seawater for synthetic fuel production.
The study examined all 11,000 German communities, taking into account factors such as temperature, air humidity, and potential for wind and solar energy. Depending on the location and technology, the CO2 removal costs in 2045 can vary between just under €200 and over €1000 per ton.
The energy demand of DAC plants can vary by more than 100% throughout the year, mainly due to temperature fluctuations and different air humidity. Even within a single day, the energy demand can vary by up to 80%. This emphasizes the importance of carefully planning the integration of DAC technology into a renewable energy system.
Climeworks AG, a company specializing in carbon capture technology, recently received $162 million in funding, making it the largest investment in carbon capture technology for 2025. This investment underscores the increasing global focus on DAC technology as a solution to combat climate change.
The Forschungszentrum Jülich's study found that a comprehensive, blanket expansion of DAC is economically hardly sensible due to its dependence on location and weather. Instead, the focus should be on strategically placing facilities in the most attractive locations identified by the study.
In conclusion, the location is crucial for efficiently removing CO2 from the air, and it is indispensable to analyze the regional weather conditions and energy potentials in detail. The study provides a valuable guide for policymakers and investors seeking to invest in DAC facilities in Germany.
- To effectively combat climate change, it's essential to employ DAC technology in locations that offer a combination of moderate temperature, favorable humidity, and robust renewable energy potential, such as coastal regions along the North Sea and Baltic Sea, as identified in the research study by Forschungszentrum Jülich.
- The study on Direct Air Capture (DAC) facilities in Germany demonstrates that the strategic placement of DAC facilities in the most attractive locations, considering factors like temperature, air humidity, and renewable energy potential, is more economically viable than a comprehensive, blanket expansion, as the energy consumption and costs can significantly vary depending on the chosen location and technology.
