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The Potential Role of Direct Air Capture in the German Energy Research Program—Results of a Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Author

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  • Peter Viebahn

    (Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, Doeppersberg 19, 42103 Wuppertal, Germany)

  • Alexander Scholz

    (Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, Doeppersberg 19, 42103 Wuppertal, Germany)

  • Ole Zelt

    (Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, Doeppersberg 19, 42103 Wuppertal, Germany)

Abstract

A significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions will be necessary in the coming decades to enable the global community to avoid the most dangerous consequences of man-made global warming. This fact is reflected in Germany’s 7th Federal Energy Research Program (EFP), which was adopted in 2018. Direct Air Capture (DAC) technologies used to absorb carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from the atmosphere comprise one way to achieve these reductions in greenhouse gases. DAC has been identified as a technology (group) for which there are still major technology gaps. The intention of this article is to explore the potential role of DAC for the EFP by using a multi-dimensional analysis showing the technology’s possible contributions to the German government’s energy and climate policy goals and to German industry’s global reputation in the field of modern energy technologies, as well as the possibilities of integrating DAC into the existing energy system. The results show that the future role of DAC is affected by a variety of uncertainty factors. The technology is still in an early stage of development and has yet to prove its large-scale technical feasibility, as well as its economic viability. The results of the multi-dimensional evaluation, as well as the need for further technological development, integrated assessment, and systems-level analyses, justify the inclusion of DAC technology in national energy research programs like the EFP.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Viebahn & Alexander Scholz & Ole Zelt, 2019. "The Potential Role of Direct Air Capture in the German Energy Research Program—Results of a Multi-Dimensional Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-27, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:18:p:3443-:d:264867
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    3. Philipp Günther & Felix Ekardt, 2022. "Human Rights and Large-Scale Carbon Dioxide Removal: Potential Limits to BECCS and DACCS Deployment," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-29, November.
    4. Thomas Deschamps & Mohamed Kanniche & Laurent Grandjean & Olivier Authier, 2022. "Modeling of Vacuum Temperature Swing Adsorption for Direct Air Capture Using Aspen Adsorption," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 4(2), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Harrison, Nicholas & Herrera Jiménez, Juan & Krieger Merico, Luiz F. & Lorenzo, Santiago & Rondón Toro, Estefani & Rouse, Paul & Samaniego, Joseluis, 2023. "Nature-based solutions and carbon dioxide removal," Documentos de Proyectos 48691, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL).
    6. Matteo Micheli & Daniel Moore & Vanessa Bach & Matthias Finkbeiner, 2022. "Life-Cycle Assessment of Power-to-Liquid Kerosene Produced from Renewable Electricity and CO 2 from Direct Air Capture in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-21, August.
    7. Balint Simon, 2023. "Material flows and embodied energy of direct air capture: A cradle‐to‐gate inventory of selected technologies," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(3), pages 646-661, June.
    8. Singh, Udayan & Colosi, Lisa M., 2021. "The case for estimating carbon return on investment (CROI) for CCUS platforms," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    9. Wahiba Yaïci & Evgueniy Entchev & Michela Longo, 2022. "Recent Advances in Small-Scale Carbon Capture Systems for Micro-Combined Heat and Power Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-30, April.
    10. Mukherjee, Agneev & Bruijnincx, Pieter & Junginger, Martin, 2023. "Techno-economic competitiveness of renewable fuel alternatives in the marine sector," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    11. Günther, Philipp & Ekardt, Felix, 2022. "Human Rights and Large-Scale Carbon Dioxide Removal: Potential Limits to BECCS and DACCS Deployment," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 11(12), pages 1-29.
    12. Drechsler, Carsten & Agar, David W., 2020. "Intensified integrated direct air capture - power-to-gas process based on H2O and CO2 from ambient air," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    13. Ikäheimo, Jussi & Lindroos, Tomi J. & Kiviluoma, Juha, 2023. "Impact of climate and geological storage potential on feasibility of hydrogen fuels," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 342(C).
    14. Enric Prats-Salvado & Nathalie Monnerie & Christian Sattler, 2021. "Synergies between Direct Air Capture Technologies and Solar Thermochemical Cycles in the Production of Methanol," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-21, August.

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