Ottenbros Anne B, van Zelm Rosalie, Simons Jasper, van der Hulst Mitchell K, de Kleijne Kiane, de Neve Hans, Huijbregts Mark A J
Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, P.O. Box 9010, 6500 GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Carbyon BV, High Tech Campus 27, 5656 AE, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Sci Rep. 2024 Jul 17;14(1):16549. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-66990-2.
Direct air capture (DAC) in combination with storage of CO can lower atmospheric CO concentrations. This study investigates the environmental impact of a new fast-swing solid sorbent DAC system, including CO transport and storage, over its life cycle, using prospective life cycle assessment. This DAC technology is currently on technology readiness level 5 and is expected to operate on an industrial scale by 2030. The technology was upscaled to the industrial scale and future changes in the background over the lifetime of the system were included, such as electricity grid mix decarbonization. Environmental trade-offs for the new DAC system were assessed by comparing environmental benefits from CO sequestration with environmental burdens from production, operation and decommissioning. We considered three electricity generation configurations: grid-connected, wind-connected, and a hybrid configuration. We found net environmental benefits for all configurations and background scenarios for ecosystem damage and climate change. Net human health benefits were observed when the electricity grid decarbonizes quickly and without the use of a battery. The environmental benefits increase with decreasing electricity footprint and are comparable with other DAC technologies. This illustrates that the new DAC system can help to meet the climate goals.
直接空气捕获（DAC）与二氧化碳储存相结合可以降低大气中的二氧化碳浓度。本研究使用前瞻性生命周期评估方法，调查了一种新型快速变压固体吸附剂DAC系统在其生命周期内的环境影响，包括二氧化碳的运输和储存。这种DAC技术目前处于技术就绪水平5，预计到2030年将实现工业化规模运行。该技术已扩大到工业规模，并考虑了系统生命周期内背景的未来变化，如电网组合脱碳。通过比较二氧化碳封存带来的环境效益与生产、运营和退役带来的环境负担，评估了新型DAC系统的环境权衡。我们考虑了三种发电配置：并网、与风能连接以及混合配置。我们发现，对于所有配置和背景情景，在生态系统损害和气候变化方面都有净环境效益。当电网快速脱碳且不使用电池时，观察到对人类健康有净效益。环境效益随着电力足迹的减少而增加，并且与其他DAC技术相当。这表明新型DAC系统有助于实现气候目标。
