Fervo Energy, a company supported by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, has announced plans to build a geothermal power facility with direct air capture technology that aims to help cool the Earth by removing carbon emissions from the atmosphere.
The use of direct air carbon capture is seen as essential in the fight against climate change to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and prevent the worst effects of a warming planet. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that removing 100 to 1,000 gigatons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by 2100 will be necessary to achieve this goal.
The challenge with carbon capture is that it requires energy, which can result in further carbon emissions and defeat the purpose of the process. However, Fervo Energy aims to solve this issue with its new geothermal facility, which will generate all the necessary power using carbon-free geothermal energy. This approach will make direct air carbon capture viable for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
According to Fervo Energy CEO Tim Latimer, Geothermal can deliver the carbon-free power and heat needed to make DAC a viable means for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a philanthropic organization established by Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, will support the new facility.
“Fervo’s unique integration of next-generation geothermal technology with direct air capture creates exciting opportunities to develop rigorous carbon removal at a lower cost while providing a reliable, abundant, carbon-free source of power and heat,” said Caitlyn Fox, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
Carbon removal technologies are crucial for addressing climate change. Fervo Energy’s approach offers an opportunity to develop carbon removal at a lower cost while providing a reliable and sustainable power source.
While some may view carbon capture as an excuse to avoid taking action on our fossil fuel infrastructure, we must take action to address the carbon emissions that we have already produced.
Carbon capture is seen as a critical tool in the fight against climate change, and Fervo Energy’s innovative approach offers a promising solution. With its expertise in geosciences and new support from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Fervo Energy is well-positioned to drive innovation in carbon removal and demonstrate the alignment between geothermal and direct air carbon capture.