Carbon Capture Technology Offers New Hope for Ireland’s EU Emissions Targets
By Barry O’Halloran | The Irish Times
24 March 2025: Co Waterford-based NEG8 Carbon is developing Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology that captures carbon dioxide from the air so it can be permanently stored underground or used in industrial processes.
NEG8 founder, Ray Naughton, said that DAC will play a part, alongside renewable energy and measures, in the battle against climate change.
“Governments are fixated on reducing the rate of emissions. However, this is not an option in some industries, including farming, which poses specific problems for Irish efforts to cut greenhouse gas output.”
With the Republic facing potential €20 billion-plus fines for missing emissions targets, Naughton argues that his company’s systems could be deployed to aid the State in tackling this.
NEG8 Carbon’s DAC technology can be built anywhere, as they simply extract the greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.
Storing the gas is the next step (See: What is Carbon Sequestration?). He explains that there are several potential options, one is to store it in disused fossil fuel reservoirs, such as the Kinsale field off the south coast, or in natural underground features. (See:Storing CO₂ in Depleted Oil & Gas Reservoirs)
Another is the EU’s Northern Lights project, which intends to ship captured carbon to disused fossil fuel wells in the North Sea for storage.
The EU has pledged to build terminals here to facilitate the transport of captured carbon, probably in Cork. Naughton said the company could locate its towers at the terminal, eliminating the need to move it by road.
According to Naughton, carbon’s uses include converting it to rock so it can be used in building materials, sealing it up for all time. (See: Storing CO2 in Concrete for Sustainable Construction)
Scientists are researching mixing it with hydrogen to create sustainable aviation fuel, which would recycle existing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, not add to it, when it burns.
Naughton said that the carbon in the atmosphere totals 420 parts per million, which international efforts aim to cut to 350.
“For every 100 parts per million, there is a 1 degree increase in temperature. There is a direct correlation between this and global warming and climate change.”
Article in The Irish Times: Irish carbon capture specialist to supply first customer
For more:
- What is Direct Air Capture?
- Direct Air Capture Cost Compared to Cost of Inaction on Climate Change
- DAC Technologies
- Biochar Carbon Sequestration vs Direct Air Capture