The Future of Carbon Removal: ENGIE’s Scientific Council Ranks DACCS as the Most Promising Technology

A New Era in Carbon Capture

As the world races toward net-zero emissions, ENGIE has taken a bold step in evaluating the most effective carbon removal technologies. Its Scientific Council, a group of ten industry-leading experts, recently published a study in the iScience journal, ranking Direct Air Carbon Capture and Sequestration (DACCS) as the most promising technology for long-term carbon storage and environmental impact.

This comprehensive analysis, driven by ENGIE’s Research & Innovation division, assessed 13 different carbon removal solutions. The study examined factors such as cost efficiency, environmental impact, and duration of carbon storage, ultimately placing DACCS at the forefront of scalable and effective climate solutions.

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Why DACCS Leads the Pack

Among the evaluated technologies were afforestation, biochar, soil carbon storage, carbon mineralization, enhanced rock weathering, and Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Sequestration (BECCS). While nature-based solutions like afforestation and reforestation showed relatively low risks, DACCS stood out due to its ability to store carbon for over a thousand years.

According to Jan Mertens, Chief Science Officer at ENGIE, “DACCS technologies are ahead on the ‘quality’ index, an average between the ESG score and the estimated storage time.” This reinforces its viability as a long-term strategy for reaching net-zero emissions.

Evaluating Carbon Removal Technologies

The Scientific Council at ENGIE operates with a unique mission: to provide a multidisciplinary and disruptive approach to assessing critical energy transition technologies. Each year, this council evaluates pressing issues, offering insights into emerging solutions.

In response to a question posed by ENGIE’s CEO Catherine MacGregor, the council explored carbon dioxide removal (CDR) techniques to determine which solutions would be most effective in achieving global climate targets. Their findings emphasized that carbon neutrality by 2050 is unattainable without removing residual emissions—estimated at 4 gigatonnes of CO2 per year.

The study confirmed that no single technology will be sufficient. Instead, a portfolio approach combining multiple strategies will be required.

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The Technologies Under Review

Among the key solutions assessed were:

1. Nature-Based Solutions

• Afforestation and Reforestation: Effective but limited by land availability.
  
• Soil Carbon Storage: Offers moderate CO2 sequestration but requires sustainable agricultural practices.
  
• Mangrove Preservation and Development: A powerful tool for coastal carbon capture.
  

2. Direct Air Capture and Sequestration (DACCS)

• Captures CO2 directly from the atmosphere and stores it underground.
  
• Provides long-term storage of over a thousand years.
  
• The highest-ranking technology in ENGIE’s assessment.
  

3. Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Sequestration (BECCS)

• Uses biomass for energy while capturing emitted CO2.
  
• Requires significant land use and sustainable biomass supply.
  

4. Geoengineering and Ocean-Based Techniques

• Ocean Fertilization: Alters ocean chemistry to enhance CO2 absorption but has low ESG scores.
  
• Enhanced Rock Weathering and Carbon Mineralization: Promising but requires large-scale deployment.
  

The Road to Large-Scale Deployment

With DACCS emerging as the leading solution, the next challenge lies in scaling it up efficiently. While promising, DACCS is currently cost-intensive, with high energy demands. However, ongoing advancements in energy efficiency and integration with renewable sources could dramatically lower costs in the coming years.

One of the major hurdles is policy and regulation. Several governments are beginning to recognize the need for incentivizing carbon removal technologies, but more robust policies are required to drive adoption at scale.

A Critical Milestone for Carbon Management

By combining technological feasibility with ESG considerations, ENGIE’s Scientific Council has provided a roadmap for sustainable carbon removal. The study aligns with recommendations from the European Commission, which calls for a 90% reduction in emissions by 2050.

According to Mertens, “Even if everyone thinks this is still a long way off, it is clear that from 2030 we will have to start eliminating the carbon present in the atmosphere at the same time as reducing emissions.”

Moving Forward

With global emissions still at 40 gigatonnes per year, immediate action is crucial. DACCS, along with complementary technologies like carbon mineralization and reforestation, presents a viable path toward achieving net-zero.

The findings from ENGIE’s Research & Innovation division will likely play a pivotal role in shaping corporate and governmental strategies for carbon removal. As the scientific community and industry leaders work together, the focus will be on optimizing costs, improving efficiency, and securing policy support.

For those interested in diving deeper, the full study can be accessed in the iScience journal.