The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that to avoid the direst consequences of climate change, the world must implement millions or even billions of tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide removal (CDR) by 2100. Direct air capture (DAC) is one method to accomplish CDR, but is an energy intensive process, requiring high heat for carbon dioxide (CO2) desorption. Powering DAC with geothermal energy may be an option, as it provides consistent, predictable, low-carbon energy that wind and solar cannot due to their reliance on day-to-day environmental conditions and diurnal fluctuation. Some high-quality geothermal play fairways are likely to be located near or even in suitable carbon storage fairways. This study identifies current and prospective geothermal energy production fairways, current and prospective carbon storage fairways, and highlights where the two fairway types are closely coupled. In order to identify which geographic regions are most suitable for geothermally powered direct air capture and storage (GDACS), the currently available DAC technologies and their power needs have been assessed as well as the potential power output and storage capacities of geothermal fairways and storage fairways, respectively, and these assessments have been integrated into a model that predicts performance and cost per stored tonne of CO2 for a conceptual GDACS facility located in each fairway.

Cost and Capacity Model Link