The global effort to combat climate change has led to a focus on carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology.
Heirloom, a California-based startup, recently received a funding boost of $150 million to expand its operations and move closer to profitability.
However, the scale of these efforts is small compared to global emissions.
The cost of capturing carbon dioxide is a critical factor, with estimates ranging from $600 to $1,000 per ton.
Heirloom's leadership is optimistic that costs could drop to between $200 and $300 per ton by the early 2030s.
The economic viability of carbon capture technologies depends on their ability to significantly reduce costs.
Critics argue that the fossil fuel industry has co-opted carbon capture as a means to delay action on emissions.
A recent study suggests that carbon must be sequestered for at least 1,000 years to effectively neutralize residual emissions.
There are two primary methods for carbon sequestration: natural and forced.
Natural sequestration lasts around 100 years, while forced sequestration aims for a permanence of at least 1,000 years.
The distinction between these methods is crucial for the effectiveness of carbon capture.
The future of carbon capture and sequestration technologies remains uncertain, as economic and scientific challenges persist.