Capacity Assessment and Climate Impact Analysis of the Aegis-1 Direct Air Capture and Carbon Utilization System - Preprint

[Geoengineering News]

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6007034

Authors: Mohammad Belal Ansari

January 02, 2026

Abstract

The continuous increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration is the principal driver of global warming and long-term climate change. Despite significant progress in renewable energy deployment, energy efficiency improvements, and emission control policies, these mitigation strategies remain insufficient to address the large volume of CO₂ already accumulated in the atmosphere. Consequently, active carbon dioxide removal technologies have become an essential component of long-term climate stabilization efforts. Direct Air Capture (DAC) has emerged as a promising approach capable of extracting CO₂ directly from ambient air, independent of emission sources. This paper presents a conceptual and prototype-based assessment of Aegis-1, a modular Direct Air Capture and Carbon Utilization machine designed to process ambient air, selectively capture CO₂, and convert a fraction of the captured carbon into carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Unlike conventional DAC systems that primarily rely on underground geological storage, Aegis-1 integrates carbon utilization pathways to ensure permanent carbon fixation while simultaneously generating value-added materials. The remaining captured CO₂ that is not used for CNT synthesis is directed toward stable and long-term utilization routes such as mineralization and solid material integration, preventing its re-release into the atmosphere. The study evaluates the projected air processing capacity of the Aegis-1 system, hourly CO₂ capture potential, carbon conversion rates, and secondary CO₂ utilization strategies. Furthermore, the potential impact of large-scale deployment of such systems on atmospheric CO₂ reduction and global warming mitigation is analyzed. By combining direct air capture with durable carbon utilization, Aegis-1 demonstrates a hybrid climate-technology framework that aligns environmental sustainability with industrial and economic feasibility, particularly in the context of emerging economies.

Source: SSRN