Market Overview: Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies

Table of contents

Carbon dioxide removals promise all the benefits of carbon credits without the risks
Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects aim for permanent emission reductions
CDR technology can play a pivotal role in reducing global warming
Corporate investment in carbon removals soars, amid volatile voluntary market conditions
CDR buyers face significant challenges to their efforts to drive permanent climate action
The carbon removal technology landscape
Direct air capture (DAC) is a new frontier for emissions action
Until 2030, DAC will be the highest-quality offset, but the smallest by volume
Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) technologies store carbon permanently across land and sea
ERW supports land-intensive industries
ERW requires significant methodological support to scale
Biochar carbon removal (BCR) durably stores carbon and enhances soil quality
BCR uses waste agricultural products to generate carbon offsets
BCR is a proven technology – but is far from industrialized
Nature-based carbon removal (NBCR) solutions are a mature option for credit buyers
Nature-based solutions provide significant opportunities for atmospheric carbon removal
Nature-based solutions are mature and bring significant co-benefits
Systemic challenges facing the CDR market will resolve by 2030

Table of figures

Figure 1. The reduction, removal and avoidance trifecta
Figure 2. CDR capture processes
Figure 3. CDR storage processes
Figure 4. CDR technology can play a pivotal role in reducing global warming
Figure 5. Corporate CDR purchases rise dramatically in 2023
Figure 6. The nature and engineered divide in CDR
Figure 7. CDR credit volume is inversely linked to storage longevity
Figure 8. Prominent DAC providers in 2023
Figure 9. Prominent ERW providers in 2023
Figure 10. Prominent BCR providers in 2023