Shell sees DAC potential for synthetic fuels production

Direct air capture could be significant provider of CO₂ feedstock, oil major says in climate-focused future energy scenario

Direct air capture (DAC) technology could play a significant role in the production of synthetic fuels for aviation and other applications by 2050, as well as channelling billions of tons of CO₂ into permanent storage, Shell says in a future energy scenario published this week. Shell raises the prospect of a “dual role” for DAC in its Sky 2050 scenario, where long-term climate security is the primary driver of global policy and investment, and specific emissions targets bring the global average surface temperature rise down to 1.2°C by 2100. An alternative ‘Archipelagos’ scenario, where concerns over energy security become entrenched worldwide and long-term sentiment shifts away from emissio