RMI has proposed a new method for classifying the vast array of different carbon dioxide removal (CDR) approaches.
In a decarbonization industry built on dozens of carbon removal methods independently named by their developers, it can be hard to spot the similarities and contrasts between the different technologies.
To address this issue, the CDR sector has already come up with a number of groupings and classifications to organize and better understand the colorful landscape of carbon removal methods.
The RMI itself has developed a taxonomy that categorizes approaches according to their key input, like biomass, alkaline materials, or low-carbon energy, generating labels such as biogenic, geochemical, or synthetic CDR.
Another commonly used taxonomy is the one originally developed by XPRIZE, which classifies CDR approaches in categories of Air, Ocean, Land, and Rock CDR, looking at their process-related similarities and enabling an optimized navigation of the social, legal, and behavioral aspects of CDR deployment.
In its newly proposed CDR classification outlook, RMI pins the CO2 atom as the guiding point, following its journey from the moment of capture until it gets stored away for good.
To that end, RMI suggests a flowchart that tracks the carbon dioxide removal in three major steps: capture, process, and storage.
The capture step covers the way in which the CO2 is removed from the atmosphere, the process step shows how it’s modified into a storage-suitable form, and the storage step indicates the final destination and resting place of the carbon dioxide atom.
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As RMI explains, in this capture > process > storage flowchart, the carbon that enters on the left side of the observation has to exit it on the right side, so no CO2 can be destroyed or lost, meaning the total amount of carbon dioxide remains the same throughout the flowchart. Additionally, the CO2 can’t flow backwards.
This perspective offers a clearer comparison of CDR approaches based on factors active in these three stages, providing meaningful insights on overlaps and optimization opportunities and contributing towards better-informed decision-making within this field.
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