Critical Review on Feasibility and Challenges of Coupling Direct Air Capture with Renewable Energy

Direct air capture (DAC) of CO2 is attracting more and more attention due to its indispensable role in achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 globally. The large-scale development and deployment of DAC rely heavily on renewable energy to ensure its sustainability and economic feasibility. The feasibility of coupling DAC with renewable energy will ultimately determine its potential as a viable negative emission technology for climate change mitigation. This review examines three representative DAC technology pathways and provides a comprehensive perspective on their integration with renewable energy sources. While current research primarily focuses on the necessity and conceptual feasibility of DAC-renewable integration, limited studies explore specific operational strategies to effectively manage fluctuations and intermittency in the renewable energy supply. Thus, this review aims to bridge the gap between DAC as an energy-intensive process and renewable energy sources, highlighting key challenges and future research directions for optimizing DAC systems in renewable energy-driven frameworks.