NEG8 Carbon Hits the Airwaves – Interview with Jonathon McCrea on Newstalk’s Futureproof
Dr. John Breen, the Chief Technology Officer of NEG8 Carbon, recently shared his expert insights on the promising future of carbon capture technology during his interview with Jonathan McRae on Newstalk FM’s Futureproof, supported by Science Foundation Ireland.
During the interview, Dr. Breen emphasised the urgency of removing the 800 billion tonnes of CO2 already in our atmosphere. As he explained, CO2 is a major driver of climate change, responsible for 65% of its effects. Direct air capture (DAC) technology, like that developed by NEG8 Carbon, aims to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it safely, preferably underground in geological formations.
Dr. Breen detailed how NEG8 Carbon uses an adsorbent material that selectively captures CO2 molecules from the air. This process involves passing air through machines where CO2 is trapped and later released under heat and vacuum conditions, producing pure CO2 that can be securely stored. The energy for this process comes from renewable sources, ensuring that the capture method itself does not contribute to further emissions.
Jonathan McRae and Dr. Breen also discussed historical and natural methods of CO2 capture, such as reforestation and ocean fertilization. However, the conversation highlighted that while these methods are important, they are not sufficient on their own. DAC technology presents a scalable solution. NEG8 Carbon is already planning to scale up their systems to capture 5.5 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2035.
One of the most compelling aspects of the interview was the comparison between DAC units and natural carbon sinks. NEG8 Carbon’s technology can capture 12 tons of CO2 per square meter per year, whereas forests capture only 0.003 tons per square meter per year. This makes DAC an incredibly efficient tool in the fight against climate change.
Investment remains a key barrier to large-scale deployment. Dr. Breen pointed out that while some governments, like those in the UK and US, are investing heavily in carbon capture technologies, more support is needed globally.
NEG8 Carbon’s first full-scale deployment will be in Canada, leveraging the geological storage capabilities there. However, the potential for future projects in Ireland and other parts of the world remains high.
Dr. Breen’s interview on Future Proof underscores the critical role of direct air capture in mitigating climate change and highlights NEG8 Carbon’s pioneering efforts in this field. For more information, visit www.neg8carbon.com
Listen to the interview in full here
For more:
What is Direct Air Capture?
How Does Direct Air Capture Work?
DAC Technologies