Click the blue text
Follow us
Introduction: From Concept to Reality, DAC Enters the Acceleration Track
Against the backdrop of the “dual carbon” strategy, a negative carbon technology capable of directly capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere—DAC (Direct Air Capture)—is becoming a new strategic pivot for energy transition and carbon management in various countries. It is hailed as “industrial photosynthesis,” essentially a technology that actively “recovers” CO₂ from the air. Currently, DAC has moved from the laboratory to pilot projects and is even taking steps towards commercialization.
Global Layout: DAC Projects are Expanding Rapidly
As of 2025, over 27 DAC plants worldwide are operational, with an annual capture capacity exceeding 10,000 tons of CO₂. Additionally, more than 130 projects are in planning or construction across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) net-zero scenario, global DAC deployment capacity is expected to reach 65 million tons per year by 2030. North America and Europe are undoubtedly the most active regions for this technology, while Asia is catching up, especially with pilot projects in China and Japan accelerating.
Technical Routes: The Emergence of a “Tripod” Structure
The main technical routes for DAC can be categorized into three types:
Solid Amine Adsorption: The representative company is Climeworks from Switzerland. Their technology utilizes amine-based porous materials to adsorb CO₂, which is regenerated through low-temperature heating, suitable for modular and skid-mounted deployment, with the representative project being the Orca plant in Iceland.
Liquid Solvent Absorption: Led by Carbon Engineering from Canada, this method uses potassium hydroxide solution to absorb CO₂, which is then released as pure CO₂ through a calcium cycle. This technical route has higher energy efficiency but greater system complexity.
Mineralization and Sequestration: Represented by Carbfix in Iceland, the captured CO₂ is dissolved in water and injected into basalt layers, reacting with minerals to form carbonates, achieving permanent sequestration, making it one of the few “negative carbon permanent sequestration” solutions available.
Cost Bottlenecks: Gradually Being Overcome by Technological Advances
Currently, the unit cost of DAC technology generally ranges from $94 to $232 per ton of CO₂, depending on the process route, energy source, and scale of deployment. However, optimistic estimates suggest that through supply chain integration, material optimization, and energy efficiency improvements, DAC costs could drop below $100 per ton in the future.
It is particularly noteworthy that by integrating with green hydrogen production, methanol synthesis, and synthetic fuels, DAC can be embedded within the carbon cycle industrial system, thereby sharing energy consumption and costs, enhancing overall economic viability.
Trend Outlook: DAC + X, Moving Towards System Platformization
The future of DAC is not just carbon capture, but also system integration. The industry is currently focusing on several “DAC +” directions:
-
DAC + Green Hydrogen + Methanol Synthesis: Creating a negative carbon fuel closed-loop system to promote the development of green synthetic fuels such as aviation fuel and electric power fuels.
-
DAC + Distributed Deployment: Installing small DAC devices in urban areas for carbon neutrality demonstration projects in parks and communities.
-
DAC + Energy Storage + Wind and Solar Power: Utilizing intermittent green electricity to drive DAC operations, achieving dual value in electricity consumption and carbon capture.
These models not only enhance the adjustability and economic viability of DAC systems but also endow them with new infrastructure attributes.
Yipus Perspective: From “Carbon Capture” to “Carbon Operations”
As a technology company focused on hydrogen energy and carbon resource coupling, Yipus Energy is integrating DAC technology into its system solutions. The company has completed the industrial trial production of small skid-mounted DAC modules and is collaborating with multiple parties to promote the implementation of demonstration projects, including an integrated system of “DAC + Green Hydrogen + Synthetic Methanol”.
In our view, DAC is not just an air purification device, but also a node and foundation of the future “carbon flow economy.” It will become a key pivot connecting renewable energy, carbon trading, and carbon-neutral parks.
Conclusion
DAC is not an isolated “black technology” but a “carbon hub” in the energy system transition. In the future, whoever can first establish the integration path of DAC with green electricity, hydrogen energy, CCUS, and other technology chains will seize the opportunity in the new carbon economy.
Content: Lü Bowen
First Review: Yu Lei
Second Review: Wang Jianyuan
Alliance
WeChat ID丨zgccsnylm
Video ID丨sphRmpDyVtgsN8l