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@jeffw@lemmy.world to Technology@lemmy.worldEnglish • 1 year ago

How Much Energy Would It Take to Pull Carbon Dioxide out of the Air?

www.wired.com

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How Much Energy Would It Take to Pull Carbon Dioxide out of the Air?

www.wired.com

@jeffw@lemmy.world to Technology@lemmy.worldEnglish • 1 year ago
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A physicist runs the math on direct air capture and warns: This tech won't save us from climate catastrophe.
  • @SlopppyEngineer@lemmy.world
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    20•1 year ago

    TL;DR: the total energy produced by humanity in a year.

    Or if you want to do it in let’s say 20 years, 5% of the total power output.

    • @SomeGuy69@lemmy.world
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      8•1 year ago

      That doesn’t sound too bad.

      • @SlopppyEngineer@lemmy.world
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        10•1 year ago

        Technically yes, but politicians start freaking out as it would lower GDP a few percent too.

        • @Galapagon@sh.itjust.works
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          7•1 year ago

          I think the technical term is: But muh ecomnomie!

          • @SlopppyEngineer@lemmy.world
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            8•1 year ago

            They’re going to say that anyway when the real cost of warming hits. Calculation about that says GDP -30% to -50%. But that’s for the next legislature I guess.

            • @realitista@lemm.ee
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              2•1 year ago

              Yes, for politicians the cost is always lower to kick the can into the next administration’s term. Unfortunately it becomes more and more expensive for the rest of us.

              • @SlopppyEngineer@lemmy.world
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                2•1 year ago

                In the end, they’ll have kicked so many cans down the road that the huge pile is blocking the way.

    • @Cavemanfreak@lemm.ee
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      8•1 year ago

      It’s way less than that. 2.39x10^20 is around 4% of 5.8x10^21. Not even close to “almost as much”. Looks like the authors don’t know their powers of 10. So if we dedicate 5% of the total energy for one year it could theoretically be done.

      • @sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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        2•1 year ago

        Assuming a 100% efficient CO2 capture system…

        Here’s an actual carbon capture system, I have mo idea how efficient or practical it is.

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