Power plant that takes in more CO2 than it produces

In an attempt to lessen the quantity of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere and make positive alterations to climate changes, scientists have created a technique that can ‘suck’ carbon more than it produces it.

Iceland scientists of Climeworks and Reykjavik Energy used geo-engineering technology to manufacture a 300-megawatt geothermal power plant in Hellisheiði. The plant is able to capture more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it produces, a process known as ‘negative emissions’.

Though the plant generates around one-third of carbon a normal coal plant usually produces, what’s amazing about this plant is that whatever it gives out and takes in is captured and stored underground. This process works with the help of a wall of fans that sucks in air, filters out the carbon dioxide and then inserts the gas into water, which is further pumped into the ground where it mineralizes to harmless carbonates and becomes a rock, according to Futurism.

First power plant to consume CO2 for electricity

Being an easy and uncomplicated procedure, it generates useable energy along with getting rid of environmental emissions; basically kills two birds in one shot.

The only factor that makes the technology not being easy to adopt is the cost. The process at present costs around $30 for each ton of carbon dioxide that is transformed into rock but what’s more expensive is the capturing of the gas from the air. The creators aim to cut down the price of sucking carbon from air to $100 per cycle, which could make the technology’s adoption more a reality. However, at this price too, hundreds of billions of dollars would be spent each year to accomplish the goal, as per Engadget.