Review of Direct Air Capture Systems Powered by Nuclear Energy

[Geoengineering News]

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/19/6/1528

Authors: Taejun Song, Joohyung Jung and Seongmin So

19 March 2026

Abstract

Direct air capture (DAC) is a carbon removal technology that selectively extracts CO2 from ambient air, where it exists at trace concentrations of approximately 400 ppm (0.04%), using chemical or physical separation processes. As the only CO2 capture approach capable of delivering negative net emissions, DAC has emerged as a critical CO2 removal (CDR) strategy for achieving global net-zero targets. However, its operation requires substantial electrical energy to drive large air flows and significant thermal energy for sorbent regeneration, which remains a major barrier to large-scale deployment. Coupling DAC with nuclear power has been proposed as a promising approach because nuclear systems can provide stable, carbon-free electricity and heat. This review summarizes recent studies on the integration of DAC with nuclear power plants and analyzes the current technological maturity of nuclear–DAC systems. In particular, the paper compares different DAC configurations, evaluates their energy requirements and integration strategies with nuclear heat and power sources, and identifies key technical and economic challenges for future deployment.

Source: MDPI