Direct Air Capture (DAC)

Direct Air Capture (DAC) is a carbon removal technology that extracts carbon dioxide directly from ambient air. DAC systems use chemical solvents or solid sorbents to bind CO₂, then release it through heat, pressure or other processes so it can be concentrated, transported and either stored permanently underground or used in products. Unlike point-source carbon capture, which captures emissions from facilities such as power plants or cement kilns, DAC targets CO₂ already dispersed in the atmosphere. Its main potential role is to help remove residual or historical emissions, but it remains energy-intensive and costly, so its climate value depends heavily on clean energy supply, permanent storage and how it compares with faster emissions-reduction options.