If it’s a mechanical tree, does the Lorax still speak for it? Of course, the mechanical trees we’re talking about don’t have a disco mode like the Oak-a-matic from the 2012 film, The Lorax, based on the. Dr. Seuss book of the same name. However, they do have a big job — soaking up stray carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
In a new interview, Arizona State University (ASU) professor Klaus Lackner, a pioneer in direct air capture and carbon storage, explained more about his mechanical trees and the future of capturing CO2 directly from the air in order to combat climate change.
The ‘mechanical trees’, as he says, are “tall vertical columns of discs coated with a chemical resin, about five feet in diameter, with the discs about two inches apart, like a stack of records.” He goes on to say that “as the air blows through, the surfaces of the discs absorb CO2. After 20 minutes or so, the discs are full, and they sink into a barrel below. We send in water and steam to release the CO2 into a closed environment.”
Back in July of 2021, ASU announced that Lackner received some $2.5 million in Department of Energy funding to work on his CO2 capture devices. At the time, Lackner was planning three farms that could soak up 1,000 tons of CO2 per day. According to him, the first of these farms opened for business in April 2022
Suck It Up
One thing that sticks out in a recent interview Lackner did is how imperfect literally every global warming mitigation technique is. He easily explained how his trees would use less energy than other intensive carbon capture projects. He also cautioned as to why better carbon storage is key. If we don’t do this, our grandkids will just be battling the carbon we captured when it escapes. Lackner is also worried about the Department of Energy’s approach.
“DOE is scaring me because they make it sound like the technology is already ready,” Lacker said. “After neglecting the technology for 30 years, we can’t just say there are companies who know how to do it and all we have to do is push it along. Climeworks is the largest company doing direct capture commercially, and it sells CO2 at around $500 to $1,000. That is simply too expensive.”
Basically, nothing is perfect. However, we still have an obligation do something. It seems like most eco-friendly efforts have pros and cons, and at least for now, prioritizing progress over perfection means we can move ahead while still developing even better tech to save our Earth.
We really hope you enjoyed this article as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. We know that the climate is in bad shape, but we also don’t want you to despair. Together, we can improve the Earth so we and future generations can enjoy it. Stay tuned to our blog for more information. “See” you next week!
