New analysis from The Great Plains Institute has identified seven regions in the United States offering the best characteristics to house a direct air capture (DAC) hub.
The analysis offered seven regions, each with a unique set of advantages: California, Rockies & Northern Plains, Permian, Midcontinent, Gulf, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic & Great Lakes.
The DAC process separates CO2 from ambient air and then either permanently stores the CO2 underground or converts it for use in concrete and other products that prevent its release back into the atmosphere.
For the analysis, GPI commissioned Carbon Solutions, LLC to collect geographic data to rank regions of the United States for DAC siting suitability. Siting considerations that improve DAC efficiency and performance include:
- Proximity to geologic CO2 storage; this includes proximity to geologic saline formations as well as oil fields with historical enhanced oil recovery potential, current activity, or depleted reservoirs.
- Existing and potential CO2 transport infrastructure and proximity to right-of-way from infrastructure for the addition of new investment.
- Regional resources for low-carbon sources of electricity, including electric grid carbon intensity, capacity to meet expected electric load, price of electricity, and renewable energy potential.
- Regional resources for low-carbon sources of heat, including geothermal, biomass, concentrated solar, and power plants with potential for carbon capture and storage.
- Electric power and industrial facilities with potential for waste heat supply or combined heat and power.
- Optimal climate and atmospheric conditions for DAC system operation.
Direct Air Capture has support in the federal 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides $3.5 billion during 2022 to 2026 to establish a regional DAC hubs program supporting four large-scale, regional hubs.
Each regional hub would be made up of a network of DAC projects, shared CO2 transport and storage infrastructure, and other shared facilities and resources. Applications to receive regional DAC hub funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and National Energy Technology Laboratory are due March 13.
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