The world’s first direct air capture (DAC) facility powered by wind energy is set to be built in Tom Green County, Texas. After 2030, the facility, dubbed Project Concho, is projected to remove 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually. That is the equivalent of taking 116,628 gas-powered vehicles off the road for a year, according to the developers.
Unlike traditional carbon capture systems that trap emissions directly at their source, DAC technology can be deployed anywhere and pull carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. However, because carbon dioxide is more diluted in ambient air compared to emission sources, these systems require significantly more energy to capture those greenhouse gases.
Studies estimate that DAC operations can consume two to three times more energy than conventional carbon capture methods, raising concerns about their environmental efficiency when creating emissions in the process of removing them.
In an effort to ensure a cleaner and more sustainable approach to reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide, Project Concho will run on wind energy.