How to Strip Carbon From the Atmosphere

How to Strip Carbon From the Atmosphere

Leading climate models point to a sobering reality: Even if the world’s economy reaches net zero emissions by midcentury, we will still have too much CO2 in the atmosphere. And so if we have to not just emit less, but remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, how do we do it?

Today we dive into carbon dioxide removal, or CDR. It’s an increasingly diverse and vibrant technology landscape, with some fundamental business model questions yet to be answered.

To take stock of this space, we spoke to Sarah Sclarsic, a carbon removal researcher at MIT with business acumen to boot: She co-founded the mobility company Getaround. She’s now an investor and on the boards of two SPACs (one of which took XL Fleet public).

We survey the existing technologies, ranging from the old school, like planting trees, to the novel, like direct air capture. And then we take a dive into some theoretical bioengineering approaches.

Sarah argues that we already use powerful biotech tools for medicine and food. She shares her research on the potential to apply these biotech approaches to CDR, laying out what these technologies might look like, such as bioengineering microbes to assist with enhanced rock weathering or cultivating fields and fields of carbon-locking cassava.

The Interchange is brought to you by the Yale Program in Financing and Deploying Clean Energy. Through this online program, Yale University is training working professionals in clean energy policy, finance, and technology, accelerating the deployment of clean energy worldwide, and mitigating climate change. To connect with Yale expertise, grow your professional network, and deepen your impact, apply before March 14, 2021.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episoder(342)

OB3 and market uncertainty has put more pressure than ever on clean energy assets. How are owners and operators getting the most out of their wind, solar and storage? (Recorded Live at RE+ in Las Vegas)

OB3 and market uncertainty has put more pressure than ever on clean energy assets. How are owners and operators getting the most out of their wind, solar and storage? (Recorded Live at RE+ in Las Vegas)

In a year defined by uncertainty, this RE+ special episode of Interchange Recharged flips the script from “build more” to “get more from what you’ve got.” Sylvia Leyva Martinez, Research Director at W...

10 Sep 202556min

Forget Net Zero. Everyone’s talking about energy dominance, but is a rebrand really the best thing for climate action? Recorded at RE+ in Las Vegas as the energy industry’s biggest event gets underway, storytelling becomes part of the strategy.

Forget Net Zero. Everyone’s talking about energy dominance, but is a rebrand really the best thing for climate action? Recorded at RE+ in Las Vegas as the energy industry’s biggest event gets underway, storytelling becomes part of the strategy.

The policy environment in the US at the moment is challenging, but developers, utilities, and investors are still moving forward with decarbonisation goals and climate action; they’re just talking abo...

9 Sep 202515min

Could your EV power your home? A look at how electric vehicles could be used as two-way charging systems, easing strain on the grid.

Could your EV power your home? A look at how electric vehicles could be used as two-way charging systems, easing strain on the grid.

EV growth is moving, but is it moving quickly enough? Wood Mackenzie research projects battery electric vehicles to account for 58% of light vehicle sales globally by 2050. It won’t be until 2045 that...

26 Aug 202542min

Transferable tax credits for renewable projects has created a $52 billion market | How are clean energy developers making the most of it?

Transferable tax credits for renewable projects has created a $52 billion market | How are clean energy developers making the most of it?

Way back in 2016, US energy storage capacity had just hit 336MWh, a 100% year-on-year increase. The growth forecast for storage was for 7.3GWh by 2022 – a US$3.3 billion market. It’s just one example ...

12 Aug 202546min

What’s the forecast for energy projects as the Big Beautiful Bill looms over the industry? Developers and suppliers are adapting to the chaos – but how?

What’s the forecast for energy projects as the Big Beautiful Bill looms over the industry? Developers and suppliers are adapting to the chaos – but how?

The uncertainty rippling through the energy industry in the first half of 2025 hasn’t gone away. Utilities, developers, and manufacturers are still grappling with the fallout from the "One Big Beautif...

29 Jul 202539min

How is geothermal faring in 2025? Investment is booming but is the technology and policy support there?

How is geothermal faring in 2025? Investment is booming but is the technology and policy support there?

Despite uncertainty for US clean energy investors, things are looking good for the geothermal sector. US$1.7 billion in public funding was pumped into geothermal projects in Q1 this year - 85% of 2024...

15 Jul 202537min

The oil and gas majors are phasing down their renewable strategies. What does it mean for climate goals?

The oil and gas majors are phasing down their renewable strategies. What does it mean for climate goals?

In February this year BP announced it was cutting its investment in green energy ventures from $5B to $2B while reallocating $10B to fossil fuels, and abandoning its 2030 oil output reduction target. ...

1 Jul 202541min

The world’s most-used carbon accounting rule is about to get a major overhaul. What does it mean for clean energy buyers?

The world’s most-used carbon accounting rule is about to get a major overhaul. What does it mean for clean energy buyers?

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol – the global gold standard for measuring corporate emissions – is under review, and the proposed changes could dramatically reshape how clean energy is bought, sold, and re...

17 Jun 202534min

Populært innen Business og økonomi

stopp-verden
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
dine-penger-pengeradet
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
e24-podden
rss-borsmorgen-okonominyhetene
pengepodden-2
pengesnakk
tid-er-penger-en-podcast-med-peter-warren
finansredaksjonen
livet-pa-veien-med-jan-erik-larssen
utbytte
stormkast-med-valebrokk-stordalen
morgenkaffen-med-finansavisen
rss-sunn-okonomi
rss-markedspuls-2
lederpodden
liberal-halvtime
rss-pa-konto
rss-investering-gjort-enkelt