# The Potential and Cost of Carbon Dioxide Removal Using Direct Air Capture with Land-Based Wind and Utility-Scale Photovoltaics

## TL;DR

This paper evaluates the potential and cost of using direct air capture with wind and solar energy to remove carbon dioxide in the U.S.

## Contribution

The study provides a detailed assessment of DACS technical potential and cost variability in the U.S. context.

## Key findings

- Low-temperature DACS could remove up to 9 gigatonnes of CO2 annually in the U.S.
- DACS costs could be below $300/tonneCO2 by 2050, depending on various factors.
- Standardized frameworks for monitoring DACS performance are urgently needed.

## Abstract

The rapid deployment of direct air capture and storage
(DACS) is
critical for achieving emission targets, necessitating precise evaluation
of the scale and cost of carbon dioxide removal. This study examines
the availability of land, electricity generation, and geologic CO2 storage within the United States, estimating a technical
potential for low-temperature, adsorbent-based DACS to remove approximately
9 gigatonnes of CO2 annually. By 2050, a substantial portion
of this removal could be achieved at net-removed costs below $300/tonneCO2, though costs are highly variable depending on factors such
as facility scale, construction expenses, climate-dependent productivity
and heating efficiency, and geologic storage conditions. In the short
term, DACS deployment will help identify key research priorities for
advancing technology and reducing removal costs. Concurrently, there
is an urgent need for scientifically robust and standardized frameworks
for monitoring, reporting, and verifying DACS performance across both
established and emerging technologies and energy sources.