Direct carbon/air capture (DCC) is a method of carbon removal that takes carbon out of our atmosphere and stores it permanently underground. It is referred to as one of the most direct and effective methods of carbon emission reduction. So, we had to ask: how effective are direct carbon capture offsets?

Direct carbon/air capture (DCC) offsets are effective because they are permanent and immediate; however, they do not reduce your own carbon emissions. They are also efficient because they have a low rate of carbon re-emission, a low land-usage requirement, and a low life-cycle carbon footprint.

Keep reading to find out how efficient and effective direct carbon/air capture (DCC) offsets are, how you can offset your carbon footprint with DCC offsets, what the pros and cons of DCC offsets are, how DCC offsets can mitigate climate change, and what better alternatives to DCC offsets are. 

The Big Picture of the Effectiveness & Efficiency of Direct Carbon/Air Capture Offsets

Carbon offsets play a crucial role in reducing our carbon footprint, the amount of CO₂ emissions associated with an individual or an entity. 

“Carbon footprint: the amount of greenhouse gasses and specifically carbon dioxide emitted by something (such as a person’s activities or a product’s manufacture and transport) during a given period”

Merriam Webster

Basically, a carbon footprint is the amount of carbon emitted by an activity or an organization which includes GHG emissions from fuel that we burn directly and GHG emissions from manufacturing the products that we use.

One way to reduce our carbon footprint is via the use of carbon offsets. These are reductions in GHG emissions that are measured in tons of CO₂ equivalents and are bought and sold through international brokers, online retailers, and trading platforms. 

“Carbon offset: a way for a company or person to reduce the level of carbon dioxide for which they are responsible by paying money to a company that works to reduce the total amount produced in the world, for example by planting trees”

Oxford Dictionary

Essentially, carbon offsets are reductions in GHG emissions that are used to compensate for emissions occurring elsewhere. Carbon offsets reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions beyond what we each can achieve through individual actions. 

Direct carbon capture (DCC) offsets are a specific type of carbon offset that remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it permanently in geological reservoirs.

“Direct carbon capture: the process of storing carbon dioxide that has been collected and removed from the atmosphere, in solid or liquid form”

Oxford Dictionary

DCC involves plants that extract carbon from the atmosphere. The captured carbon can then be pumped deep underground, often at depths of 1 kilometer (0.6 miles), and stored in depleted oil reserves, coalbeds, or saline aquifers.

Direct carbon capture (DCC) is a type of technological carbon removal, the process of eliminating carbon from the atmosphere using technology. DCC is both efficient and effective at reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change.

Here’s How Effective and Efficient Direct Carbon/Air Capture Offsets Are

In terms of effectiveness, DCC offsets are effective at mitigating climate change because they are permanent and immediate, but they do not reduce your own carbon emissions.

In terms of efficiency, direct carbon capture (DCC) offsets have a low rate of carbon re-emission, a low land-usage requirement, and a low life-cycle carbon footprint.

How Effective Are Direct Carbon/Air Capture Offset Programs at Mitigating Climate Change

Effectiveness involves completing a task with a desired outcome, typically a successful one. 

“Effective: producing the result that is wanted or intended; producing a successful result”

Oxford Dictionary

Direct Carbon Capture (DCC) offsets are effective at mitigating climate change because they are permanent and immediate, but they do not reduce your own carbon emissions.

Direct Carbon/Air Capture Offsets Remove CO₂ Emissions Permanently 

Direct carbon capture (DCC) offsets are a specific type of carbon offset that remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it permanently in geological reservoirs. For example, Climeworks’ DCC machines capture carbon and store it deep underground, where it remains for more than 10,000 years.

When comparing DCC to other methods of carbon removal like planting trees, we find that DCC reduces CO₂ emissions more permanently. There is always the risk of droughts, wildfires, tree diseases, and deforestation wiping out newly planted trees, negating permanence and any carbon reduction benefits. 

In short, unlike traditional offsets which simply compensate for your carbon emissions, DCC offsets permanently remove CO₂ from the atmosphere. Storing the carbon underground in rock formations is also a permanent process. 

Direct Carbon/Air Capture Offsets Remove CO₂ Emissions Immediately

CO₂ emissions reductions from direct carbon capture (DCC) offsets occur as soon as the machines become operational. Once the machines start sucking in atmospheric air, CO₂ removal begins. In comparison, newly planted trees could take upwards of 20 years to capture the amount of CO₂ that most carbon offset programs promise. 

In short, DCC is the fastest reducer of carbon emissions out of all carbon offset programs, reducing emissions immediately. 

Direct Carbon/Air Capture Offsets Do Not Reduce Your Own Carbon Emissions

One of the main limitations of carbon offsetting in general is that purchasing a carbon offset does not directly reduce your carbon footprint. It only makes others reduce their carbon footprint to compensate for your carbon footprint. 

If emissions are only offset and not reduced from the source, this could lead to greenwashing, when the consumer is deceived into thinking they are offsetting their emissions but in reality they are not. Companies accused of greenwashing either invest in non-verified credits, do not prioritize in-house emissions reductions, or double-count carbon credits. Or sometimes, all of the above.

In short, you should make sure to reduce your own emissions first before offsetting the remainder of what you cannot reduce. Otherwise, offsetting could be seen as greenwashing. 

How Efficient Are Direct Carbon/Air Capture Offset Programs at Reducing CO₂ Emissions

Efficiency involves performing a task while using the least amount of resources and producing the least amount of waste as possible.

“Efficient: working in a way that does not waste a resource (= something valuable such as fuel, water, or money)”

Cambridge Dictionary

Direct Carbon Capture (DCC) offsets are efficient at reducing CO₂ emissions because they have a low rate of carbon re-emission, a low land-usage requirement, and a low life-cycle carbon footprint.

Direct Carbon/Air Capture Offsets Have a Low Rate of Carbon Re-Emission

DCC plants are most effective in locations where there is excess renewable energy available along with ample natural storage options for the captured carbon. And although DCC facilities require energy to operate, they can re-emit only small amounts of CO₂ if powered by low-carbon energy sources (i.e., solar or wind power).

For example, a study published by the RWTH Aachen University on Climeworks’ Orca DCC plant found that this plant re-emits less than 10% of the CO₂ they capture when the plant is operated by low-carbon electricity. For every 100 tons of CO₂ captured from the air, 90 tons are permanently removed, and only up to 10 tons are re-emitted

In short, DCC offsets have low rates of carbon re-emission when plants are operated by low-carbon electricity.

Direct Carbon/Air Capture Offsets Have Low Land-Usage Requirements

The land usage requirement for direct carbon capture (DCC) offsets is relatively low, averaging between 0.4 and 66km² needed to capture 1 million tons of CO₂. In comparison, forests require approximately 862km² to capture the same amount of CO₂.

For example, Climework’s Orca DCC plant is the size of approximately 8 shipping containers, making it a relatively small system. And although the land usage requirement increases because Orca’s heat and electrical needs are met by the Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Plant, this is still low compared to other types of carbon removal.

In short, a DCC plant’s land usage requirement is generally low. However, the type of plant and the energy source that powers it can affect the overall land usage requirement. If the plant takes energy from the traditional power grid, then the land requirement would be little to none. But if the plant builds its own renewable energy source (i.e., a solar or wind farm), this would increase the land requirement.

Direct Carbon/Air Capture Offsets Have a Low Life-Cycle Carbon Footprint 

A life-cycle assessment (LCA) is a method to evaluate the environmental impacts of products and materials. Over the years, companies have strategically used LCA to research and create more sustainable products. When looking at the LCA for direct carbon capture (DCC) offsets, we find that they have a low carbon footprint across their building, operating, and building back stages.

• Building: CO₂ emissions at this stage are associated with building the DCC plants and include emissions from the components of a plant (i.e., collectors, fans, and filters) and the amount of land required by the plant. If the plant builds its own renewable energy source (i.e., a solar or wind farm) this would increase the land requirement and therefore the carbon footprint. But if the plant takes energy from the traditional power grid, then the land requirement would be little to none and the carbon footprint would be lower. 

• Operating and maintenance: CO₂ emissions at this stage are associated with the operation and maintenance of the DCC plant. Using low-carbon energy sources can help keep the carbon footprint of this phase very low, and DCC plants can have an average carbon re-emission rate as low as 10%. 

• Building back: The end-of-life of DCC offset projects is not well documented because DCC itself is a relatively new technology, but DCC power plants have an estimated average life expectancy of 20 years if properly maintained. CO₂ emissions here would occur when utilizing construction equipment to decommission the plant and perform land restoration. 

In short, DCC offsets have a low carbon footprint across their building, operation and maintenance, and building back stages. 

How Could you Offset Your Own Carbon Footprint With Direct Carbon/Air Capture Offsets

The market for carbon offsets was small in the year 2000, but by 2010 it had already grown to represent nearly $10 billion worldwide. The voluntary carbon offset market (VCM) is where everyday consumers can purchase carbon offsets to offset their carbon emissions.

The Ecosystem Marketplace predicts the VCM can grow to $50B by the year 2050. And because DCC offsets are effective and efficient at reducing carbon emissions, they are predicted to make up an increasingly larger share of this market.

On the VCM, Climeworks is the leading business-to-consumer provider of DCC offsets. But there are others using biochar, mineralization, concrete, and the ocean to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere and permanently lock it away for decades. Below are our favorite direct carbon capture offsets.

What Are The Pros and Cons of Direct Carbon/Air Capture Offsets

Direct carbon capture (DCC) offsets are permanent, immediate, improve air quality and protect ecosystems, have low rates of carbon re-emission, have low land-usage requirements, and have a low carbon footprint across their life cycle stages. They also allow us to reduce carbon emissions in ways we wouldn’t be able to accomplish individually.

However, DCC offsets are also expensive, are not yet scaled to compensate for all of our global carbon emissions, and do not reduce your own carbon emissions.

What Are the 7 Pros of Direct Carbon/Air Capture Offsets

DCC offsets have various pros that make them an effective, long-term solution to reducing global atmospheric CO₂ levels.

What Are the 3 Cons of Direct Carbon/Air Capture Offsets

Understanding the drawbacks of DCC offsets is important when implementing the technology on a large scale in order to mitigate climate change.

How Can Direct Carbon/Air Capture Offsets Help Mitigate Climate Change

Climate change is a severe and long-term consequence of fossil fuel combustion. DCC offsets can help mitigate climate change because they eliminate fossil-fuel derived carbon from our atmosphere which, if left untreated, can remain there for tens of thousands of years and exacerbate the negative effects of climate change.

How is Climate Change Defined

Climate change is arguably the most severe, long-term global impact of fossil fuel combustion. Every year, approximately 33 bt of CO₂ are emitted from burning fossil fuels. The carbon found in fossil fuels reacts with oxygen in the air to produce CO₂. 

“Climate change: changes in the earth’s weather, including changes in temperature, wind patterns and rainfall, especially the increase in the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere that is caused by the increase of particular gasses, especially carbon dioxide.”

Oxford Dictionary

Atmospheric CO₂ fuels climate change, which results in global warming. When CO₂ and other air pollutants absorb sunlight and solar radiation in the atmosphere, it traps the heat and acts as an insulator for the planet. Since the Industrial Revolution, Earth’s temperature has risen a little more than 1 degree Celsius (C), or 2 degrees Fahrenheit (F). Between 1880-1980 the global temperature rose by 0.07C every 10 years. This rate has more than doubled since 1981, with a current global annual temperature rise of 0.18C, or 0.32F, for every 10 years. 

As outlined in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, we must cut current GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. 

How Do Carbon Offsets Generally Help Mitigate Climate Change

Levels of carbon in our atmosphere that cause climate change have increased as a result of human emissions since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in 1750. The global average concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today registers at over 400 parts per million. Carbon offsets can help prevent these levels from increasing even more.

When you hear the words “carbon offset”, think about the term “compensation”. Essentially, carbon offsets are reductions in GHG emissions that are used to compensate for emissions occurring elsewhere. 

Carbon offsets that meet key criteria and verified project standards, are additional and permanent, and are a part of projects that are carried out until the end of their lifespan have the best chance of reducing carbon emissions and therefore reducing climate change. 

When we offset CO₂ we also slow the rate of global temperature rise, which in turn minimizes the effects of climate change. 

How Do Direct Carbon/Air Capture Offsets Specifically Help Mitigate Climate Change

DCC offsets specifically help mitigate climate change because they are certain, measurable, and immediate. 

• DCC offsets are certain: Unlike traditional offsets which simply compensate for your carbon emissions, DCC offsets permanently remove CO₂ from the atmosphere with a low rate of re-emission. Storing the carbon underground in rock formations is also a permanent process. 

• DCC offsets are measurable: Climeworks DCC offsets are measurable, so you know precisely how much carbon dioxide they’ll remove in your name. This allows you to track how much CO₂ you are offsetting compared to what your carbon footprint is.

• DCCs are immediate: CO₂ emissions reductions occur as soon as the machines become operational. Once the machines start sucking in atmospheric air, CO₂ removal begins.

As outlined in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, we must cut current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. DCC is important to meet these targets because it eliminates carbon, which when emitted, can remain in our atmosphere for tens of thousands of years.

What Are Better Alternatives to Direct Carbon/Air Capture Offsets

If used correctly, direct carbon capture offsets can provide environmental, economic, and social benefits beyond reducing carbon emissions. They have the potential to instigate meaningful environmental change and begin to reverse some of the effects of climate change. 

However, we can’t let this method be a guilt-free way to reduce carbon emissions. Direct carbon capture offsets must be used in conjunction with direct carbon reduction measures until the industry has time to invest, develop, and refine the DCC technology.

These reduction measures don’t have to involve drastic changes either. Actions that may seem small can have a big impact because those small changes add up! You can reduce your carbon footprint in three main areas of your life: household, travel, and lifestyle. 

Reduce your household carbon footprint:

• Wash with cold water: Washing clothes in cold water could reduce carbon emissions by up to 11 million tons. Approximately 90% of the energy is used to heat the water, so switching to cold saves also saves energy.

• Replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs: Fluorescent bulbs use 75% less energy than incandescent ones, saving energy and thus reducing electricity demand and GHG emissions.

Reduce your travel carbon footprint:

• Fly less: Aviation accounts for around 1.9% of global carbon emissions and 2.5% of CO₂. Air crafts run on jet gasoline, which is converted to CO₂ when burned.

• Walk or bike when possible: The most efficient ways of traveling are walking, bicycling, or taking the train. Using a bike instead of a car can reduce carbon emissions by 75%. These forms of transportation also provide lower levels of air pollution.

Reduce your lifestyle carbon footprint:

• Switch to renewable energy sources: The six most common types of renewable energy are solar, wind, hydro, tidal, geothermal, and biomass energy. They are a substitute for fossil fuels that can reduce the effects of global warming by limiting global carbon emissions and other pollutants.

• Recycle: Recycling uses less energy and deposits less waste in landfills. Less manufacturing and transportation energy costs means fewer carbon emissions generated. Less waste in landfills means less CH₄ is generated.

• Switch from single-use to sustainable products: Reusing products avoids resource extraction, reduces energy use, reduces waste generation, and can prevent littering.

• Eat less meat and dairy: Meat and dairy account for 14.5% of global GHG emissions, with beef and lamb being the most carbon-intensive. Globally, we consume much more meat than is considered sustainable, and switching to a vegan or vegetarian diet could reduce emissions. 

• Take shorter showers: Approximately 1.2 trillion gallons of water are used each year in the United States just for showering purposes, and showering takes up about 17% of residential water usage. The amount of water consumed and the energy cost of that consumption are directly related. The less water we use the less energy we use. And the less energy we use, the less of a negative impact we have on the environment.

Because DCC offsets are an indirect way and not a direct way of reducing emissions, they alone will not be enough to reduce global carbon emissions significantly. Direct measures of emission reductions, such as reducing individual energy use and consumption, are better alternatives to DCC offsets.

Final Thoughts

Direct carbon/air capture (DCC) offsets are efficient because they have a low rate of carbon re-emission, a low land-usage requirement, and a low life-cycle carbon footprint. They are also effective because they are permanent and immediate; however, they do not reduce your own carbon emissions and can be seen as greenwashing if you do not reduce your own emissions first.

Carbon offsets can instigate meaningful change, but they should not be seen as the only solution to climate change. They are effective at reducing CO₂ in the short-term, but in the long term they fail to reduce CO₂ enough. 

When used in conjunction with direct CO₂ reduction measures, carbon offsetting can be much more effective. We should reduce our own carbon footprint as much as possible first, and only then choose the most effective carbon offsets.

Stay impactful,

Sources

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Offsets and RECs -What’s the Difference?
• Impactful Ninja: Why Is a Carbon Footprint Bad for the Environment? All You Need to Know
• United States Environmental Protection Agency System of Registries: Climate Change Terms – Carbon Footprint
• David Suzuki Foundation: Are carbon offsets the answer to climate-altering flights?
• Britannica: Carbon Offset
• The London School of Economic and Political Science: What is carbon capture and storage and what role can it play in tackling climate change?
• American University: What is Carbon Removal?
• Impactful Ninja: What Are Direct Carbon Capture Offsets and How Do They Work? The Big Picture
• Climeworks: Orca
• Climeworks: How much energy is required to run your direct air capture process?
• Science Direct: Life-cycle assessment (LCA)
• MIT SMR: Strategic Sustainability Uses of Life-Cycle Analysis
• Climeworks: What is Direct Air Capture
• Journal of Environmental Science and Technology: Life Cycle Assessment of Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage with Low-Carbon Energy Sources
• Climeworks: Homepage
• Novocarbo: Homepage
• Heirloom: Homepage
• Captura: Homepage
• Carbin Minerals: Homepage
• Parallel Carbon: Homepage
• Neustark: Homepage
• CarbonBuilt: Homepage
• Carbo Culture: Homepage
• Noya: Homepage
• Ecosystem Marketplace: Voluntary Carbon Markets Top $1 Billion in 2021 with Newly Reported Trades
• Impactful Ninja: 10 Best Direct Carbon Capture Offsets
• Impactful Ninja: Direct Carbon Capture Offsets: All 7 Pros and 3 Cons Explained
• World Resources Institute: Direct Air Capture – 6 Things to Know
• Grist: ‘Orca,’ the largest carbon removal facility to date, is up and running
• Edie: Carbon offsetting – How are businesses avoiding greenwashing on the road to net-zero?
• Impactful Ninja: Is Carbon Offsetting Greenwashing? The Big Picture
• Climeworks: Using carbon removal solutions to fight climate change
• GreenPeace: The biggest problem with carbon offsetting is that it doesn’t really work
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: Asthma, Respiratory Allergies and Airway Diseases
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: Cancer
• Carbon Brief: Climate change will hit ‘endemic’ plants and animals the hardest, study warns
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: Paris Climate Agreement
• World Nuclear Association: Carbon Emissions from Electricity
• Natural Resources Defense Council: Carbon Offsets 101
• myclimate: What does “net zero emissions” mean?
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Climate Change – Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
• Terrapass: Carbon Offset Projects
• Carbon Offset Guide: Additionality
• Carbon Offset Guide: Permanence
• Climeworks: How much energy is required to run your direct air capture process?
• American University: Fact Sheet – Carbon Removal
• The Ocean Foundation: Reduce Your Carbon Footprint 
• Energy Information Administration: Renewable Energy Explained 
• Energy Star: Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) and Mercury
• Our World in Data: Where in the world do people have the highest CO2 emissions from flying?
• Zero Waste Europe: Reusable vs Single Use Packaging
• Carbonbrief: Interactive – What is the climate impact of eating meat and dairy?
• Stop Waste: Recycling and Climate Protection
• Impactful Ninja: Is Taking Long Showers Bad for the Environment?
• United States Environmental Protection Agency: Showerheads
• Impactful Ninja: 4 Main Reasons Why Reducing Your Carbon Footprint is Important