The world’s first direct air capture (DAC) facility powered by wind energy is set to be built in Tom Green County, Texas. After 2030, the facility, dubbed Project Concho, is projected to remove 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually. That is the equivalent of taking 116,628 gas-powered vehicles off the road for a year, according to the developers.
Unlike traditional carbon capture systems that trap emissions directly at their source, DAC technology can be deployed anywhere and pull carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. However, because carbon dioxide is more diluted in ambient air compared to emission sources, these systems require significantly more energy to capture those greenhouse gases.
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Studies estimate that DAC operations can consume two to three times more energy than conventional carbon capture methods, raising concerns about their environmental efficiency when creating emissions in the process of removing them.
In an effort to ensure a cleaner and more sustainable approach to reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide, Project Concho will run on wind energy.
A WORLD-FIRST IS COMING TO THE LONE STAR STATE.
A CARBON CAPTURE FACILITY – POWERED BY WIND ENERGY.
THAT’S THE CLAIM BEING MADE BY DEVELOPERS OF PROJECT CONCHO-
A DIRECT AIR CAPTURE PLANT SET TO BE BUILT IN TOM GREEN COUNTY, TEXAS.
THE COMPANIES BEHIND THIS ENDEAVOR SAY THAT AFTER 20-30-
THE FACILITY AIMS TO HELP REMOVE 500,000 TONS OF CARBON DIOXIDE ANNUALLY.
AN EMISSIONS EQUIVALENT OF TAKING OVER 110,000 GAS-POWERED CARS OFF THE ROAD FOR A YEAR.
MOST CARBON CAPTURE TECH DRAWS THE EMISSIONS AT THEIR SOURCE –
BUT THAT ISN’T A REQUIREMENT FOR DIRECT AIR CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY-
WHICH CAN BE DEPLOYED ANYWHERE AND PULL CARBON DIRECTLY FROM THE ATMOSPHERE.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE AIR’S CO2 CONCENTRATION IS MUCH MORE DILUTED WHEN NOT DIRECTLY AT THE SITE WHERE EMISSIONS ARE BEING GENERATED –
DIRECT AIR CAPTURE FACILITIES REQUIRE GREATER AMOUNTS OF POWER THAN WHAT’S TYPICALLY NEEDED BY THIS TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY.
SOME STUDIES ESTIMATE IT CAN BE 2 TO 3 TIMES MORE ENERGY INTENSIVE THAN CONVENTIONAL CARBON CAPTURE METHODS.
HIGHER ELECTRIC USE MEANS MORE EMISSIONS ARE CREATED BY TECH THAT IS INTENDED TO REMOVE THOSE GREENHOUSE GASSES.
SO, THAT’S WHY RENEWABLE WIND ENERGY IS BEING USED TO POWER THIS TEXAS-BASED DIRECT AIR CAPTURE PLANT.
MAKING IT AN EVEN CLEANER WAY TO IMPROVE THE NATION’S AIR QUALITY.
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