Introduction to Direct Air Capture (DAC)
About the eLearning Course
This eLearning course introduces participants to the science, technology, and policy landscape of Direct Air Capture (DAC) as a climate mitigation strategy. Learners will explore how DAC differs from other carbon management approaches like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and understand its role in achieving net-zero goals. The course covers the basic principles of DAC operation, including absorption, adsorption, and various technology types such as solid sorbents, liquid sorbents, electrochemical systems, and pressure/temperature swing adsorption (PSA/TSA). Participants will examine key performance metrics, Carbon Removal Efficiency (CRE), and the current state of DAC deployment. The course also addresses the economic, social, and technical challenges of scaling DAC, the potential moral hazard of overreliance, and the innovation pathways shaping its future.
Target Audience
Individuals seeking to understand the basics of carbon removal technologies and their role in combating climate change.
You Will Learn
- Describe the role of direct air capture (DAC) in climate mitigation
- Differentiate between carbon capture and storage (CCS) and DAC
- Explain the key performance metrics (KPMs) for DAC systems
- Recognize the current state of DAC deployment
- Identify the Carbon Removal Efficiency (CRE) in DAC
- Describe the economic and social constraints of DAC deployments
- Recognize the moral hazard of DAC reliance
- Discuss the technical challenges of direct air capture (DAC)
- Explain the basic principles of operation of DAC technologies
- Differentiate between absorption and adsorption
- Identify the different types of DAC technologies
- Solid sorbent technology
- Liquid sorbent technology
- Electrochemical systems
- Pressure or temperature swing adsorption (PSA/TSA)
- Recognize the future outlook of DAC and innovation pathways
Course Content
- Climate Mitigation with DAC
- Technical Analysis of Commercially Available DAC Technologies
