🚨NEW STUDY🚨
“Given the high expectations placed on #DAC for future #decarbonisation, recent study presents an extensive review of DAC tech, exploring a number of techno-economic aspects, including an updated collection of the current & planned DAC projects around the world.”
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“A dedicated analysis focused on the production of synthetic methane, methanol, and diesel from #DAC and electrolytic hydrogen in the European Union (EU) is also performed, where the #carbonfootprint is analysed for different scenarios and energy sources.”
2/10
The results show that “the maximum grid carbon intensity to obtain #NegativeEmissions with #DAC is estimated at 468 gCO 2 e/kWh, which is compliant with most of the EU countries’ current grid mix.”
3/10
“Using only photovoltaics (PV) and wind, #NegativeEmissions of at least −0.81 tCO 2 e/tCO 2 captured can be achieved.”
4/10
“The maximum grid intensities allowing a reduction of the synthetic fuels carbon footprint compared with their fossil-fuels counterparts range btw 96 & 151 gCO 2 e/kWh.”
5/10
However, “to comply with the Renewable Energy Directive II (REDII) sustainability criteria to produce renewable fuels of non-biological origin, the maximum stays between 30.2 to 38.8 gCO 2 e/kWh.”
6/10
“Only when using PV and wind is the EU average able to comply with the REDII threshold for all scenarios and fuels, with fuel emissions ranging from 19.3 to 25.8 gCO 2 e/MJ.”
7/10
These results highlight the “importance of using renewable energies for the production of synthetic fuels compliant with the EU regulations that can help reduce emissions from difficult-to-decarbonise sectors.”
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Read the paper entitled: "The Role of Direct Air Capture in EU’s Decarbonisation and Associated Carbon Intensity for Synthetic Fuels Production" here ⬇️ econpapers.repec.org/article/gamjen…
Four experts offer their thoughts on the potential security risks associated with sunlight reflection methods (#SRM), or solar geoengineering, highlighting the geopolitical complexity of the field.
Read here:🧵1/6
Burgess Langshaw Power argues climate change is now a security issue and SRM could be too, but warns against military control to avoid secrecy or an arms race.
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Josh Horton says SRM isn’t a direct threat but could indirectly heighten geopolitical tensions if deployment disputes emerge.
🚨A new study in Communications Sustainability explores whether enhanced rock weathering (#ERW) can scale into a meaningful, equitable climate solution.
The headline: ERW could remove ~1GtCO₂/yr by 2100, but who deploys it, when & how fast will shape its global impact.🧵1/10
2/ Enhanced rock weathering works by spreading crushed silicate rocks on croplands.
These minerals chemically react with CO₂, locking carbon into stable forms while improving soil quality. It’s a rare intervention promising both climate mitigation and agricultural co-benefits.
3/ But technical potential alone doesn’t determine climate outcomes. The central question the paper asks is:
How does ERW adoption diffuse across countries under real-world economic, social, and political conditions?
🚨New study finds #biochar made from bioenergy crops & residues in China could remove up to 1.88 GtCO₂/yr with optimized plant logistics and dedicated biomass.
At ~$10/tCO₂, far cheaper than #BECCS, it offers a scalable, cost-effective carbon removal (#CDR) pathway.
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2/ Biochar, a carbon-rich solid produced by pyrolysis of biomass, locks carbon into soils for decades to centuries while improving soil quality and crop yields.
Its stability makes it a promising negative emissions technology (NET) relied on in climate scenarios.
3/ The authors evaluate a hybrid system called BCBE, biochar production with biomass supply from dedicated bioenergy crops grown on abandoned cropland, plus agricultural and forestry residues.
This aims to reduce competition with food production.
From U.S. withdrawal from global climate bodies & anti-geoengineering bills, to SAI uncertainty tool, Arctic field trials & funding calls, SRM stayed at the nexus of sci & geopolitics.
Top 10 SRM Highlights (Jan'26)🧵1/11
1️⃣ 𝗨.𝗦. 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗖𝗖𝗖 & 𝗜𝗣𝗖𝗖 - Experts warn withdrawal could weaken SRM governance, deepen geopolitical mistrust, and accelerate fragmented or unilateral approaches.
2/11
2️⃣ 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶-𝗴𝗲𝗼𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨.𝗦. - New Arizona and Iowa state proposals target geoengineering, despite limited evidence and no active SRM programs.
🚨Climate pathways to 1.5°C increasingly depend on land-intensive carbon dioxide removal (#CDR) like forestation and BECCS.
But new research shows these climate solutions could place major pressure on #biodiversity if deployed without safeguards.
Details🧵1/11
2/ Using five integrated assessment models, the study examines where large-scale CDR is projected to occur & and how often it overlaps with biodiversity hotspots and climate refugia, the places most critical for species survival.
3/ The analysis focuses on a moderate but realistic deployment level of 6 GtCO₂ per year:
• 3 GtCO₂/yr from forestation
• 3 GtCO₂/yr from BECCS
Even at this level, land pressures are already significant.
🚨The Politics of Geoengineering (book) is out, offering 1st comprehensive social science view of #geoengineering.
It examines political, legal, economic & societal dimensions of CDR & SRM, from Africa to the Asia-Pacific, amid urgent governance & ethical debates
Chapters🧵1/15
2/ Chapter 01: Geoengineering has shifted from theory to contested policy, with technology outpacing governance. The analysis highlights political, legal, economic, and justice dimensions and calls for urgent global oversight.
3/ Chapter 2 examines Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) as geoengineering, analyzing CO2 extraction, storage, and conversion, with SWOT insights on techniques and implications for sustainable climate action.