Advancements in Direct Air Capture Technologies: Engineering Solutions for Scalable CO₂ Removal

Direct Air Capture (DAC) is an innovative technology that extracts carbon dioxide (CO₂) directly from the atmosphere, offering a vital tool to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas levels. This review explores advancements in DAC systems to support large-scale CO₂ removal, targeting 1–10 billion tons annually by 2050 to achieve global net-zero emissions. Recent progress includes improved methods using solid materials and liquid solutions, which have increased efficiency by 15–20% and lowered costs to $200–600 per ton of CO₂ removed. Operational facilities now capture up to 1 million tons of CO₂ yearly, demonstrating practical success. Engineering solutions, such as modular designs and renewable energy use, reduce costs by 15% and energy needs by 10–20%, enabling expansion to larger scales. DAC can achieve net CO₂ reductions of up to 0.9 tons per ton captured, but its environmental benefits depend on clean energy sources to minimize emissions during operation. Challenges include high costs, significant energy requirements, and limited global infrastructure for CO₂ storage and transport. Future efforts should focus on developing durable materials, building 10–20 DAC hubs worldwide by 2035, and introducing stronger financial incentives to cut costs to $100 per ton. This study highlights DAC’s potential to significantly contribute to climate goals, provided technological and policy barriers are overcome. By advancing engineering and fostering global cooperation, DAC can complement emissions reduction efforts, ensuring a sustainable path to net-zero.