Carbon-sucking tech could need more energy than all homes use

Direct air capture is still in its infancy and while it could one day be a crucial climate tool, it’s hugely energy intensive. It’s effectively like running a giant air conditioner to cool the atmosphere. — AFP

Technology that sucks carbon emissions out of the air would need more energy than used to run the world’s homes if it’s to play a significant role in reaching global climate goals.

That’s according to a future energy scenario modelled by oil supermajor Shell Plc that includes direct air capture, which filters the gas out of the air so that it can be stored safely and permanently. It’s one of the two main ways to trap CO2 - along with capturing it before it leaves a smoke stack.