Tree Direct Carbon Capture V.S. New Carbon Machines

Direct air capture (DAC) and using trees (afforestation/reforestation) are both methods for removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, but they have distinct differences and trade-offs:

Direct Air Capture (DAC):

• Technology: DAC uses machines to capture CO2 directly from the air, then either stores it underground or uses it for other purposes (e.g., producing synthetic fuels).
• Scale: DAC has the potential to capture large amounts of CO2 on a global scale, but current technology is still developing and relatively expensive.
• Permanence: DAC can offer more permanent carbon storage solutions, as the captured CO2 can be sequestered underground for centuries.
• Land Use: DAC requires less land compared to planting trees, making it potentially suitable for areas with limited land availability.
• Energy: DAC currently has high energy requirements, often relying on fossil fuels, which can offset some of the carbon reduction benefits.

Using Trees:

• Natural Process: Trees naturally absorb CO2 through photosynthesis and store it in their wood and roots.
• Scalability: Planting trees is a scalable solution, but it requires vast amounts of land and time for trees to mature and effectively capture CO2. This is where paulownia shines.
• Co-benefits: Trees offer numerous co-benefits like improving air quality, biodiversity, soil health, and water resources.
• Risks: Forests are vulnerable to wildfires, diseases, and deforestation, which can release stored carbon back into the atmosphere. With biochar this is a comprehensive solutions.
• Limited Capacity: Trees have a finite capacity to store carbon, and as they age, their growth and carbon uptake slow down.

Comparison:

Working Together:

Both DAC and using trees have a role to play in addressing climate change. DAC offers a potentially large-scale and permanent solution, while trees provide a natural, scalable approach with numerous co-benefits. A combination of both approaches, along with other carbon removal strategies, is needed to effectively tackle the climate crisis.

CDR can purge carbon that’s already in the atmosphere, as well as that emitted on an ongoing basis. It is an essential element of transitioning to a net-zero economy.

The US government is certainly leading the charge. In addition to a tax credit that applies to CO2 use and storage projects and a $35 billion Regional DAC HUBs program, a first-of-a-kind government procurement program– the CDR Purchase Pilot Prize – will allocate $35 million in cash awards and purchasing agreements to qualifying projects. And the Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase program is already encouraging private sector activity. Google has pledged to match this Department of Energy (DOE) initiative dollar for dollar via a range of projects over the next year.

And more support could be coming: a group of US legislators introduced the Carbon Dioxide Removal Leadership Act of 2024 earlier this year. This legislation would require the DOE to use CDR technologies, as well as setting MRV standards and encouraging DOE investment to help bring down capture costs.

Is it an irresponsible choice for corporate buyers of carbon removal credits to choose natural carbon removal for offsetting residual emissions because of a mismatch between how long the corporate emission stays in the atmosphere and how long trees live.

No it is not, that is with the right Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) program. Paulownia trees are one of the fastest growing trees in the world, coupled with their ability of coppicing it is a formidable tool for carbon sequestration.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs

Do you remember? The feeling of deja vu ... YES we have been here before!

During the great depression President Franklin D. Roosevelt?Eighty-five years ago, on April 5, 1933, signed an executive order allocating $10 million for “Emergency Conservation Work.” which planted 3 billion trees and employed 3 million Americans, primarily in our national forests. We can repeat this positive action now for carbon drawdown.

Trees are deployed in many projects indirectly tied to CDR:

• Abandoned Farmland Restoration
• Alternative Cement
• Bamboo Production
• Biochar Production
• Biomass Power
• Waste to Energy
• Coastal Wetland Protection
• Coastal Wetland Restoration
• Composting
• Conservation Agriculture
• Forest Protection
• Improved Manure Management
• Multi-strata Agroforestry
• Regenerative Annual Cropping
• Sustainable Intensification for Smallholders
• Temperate Forest Restoration
• Tree Intercropping
• Tree Plantations (on Degraded Land)
• Tropical Forest Restoration

Stop Underestimating Trees

Trees are a cost-effective easily deployable solution over DAC technological solutions. According to a December 2023 report from McKinsey Sustainability, reforestation and afforestation are currently estimated to cost between $10-$40 per ton of carbon. (DAC) direct air capture costs about $500-$1,000 per ton. So not only are trees capable of slowing climate change, but they also do it at an affordable price point.

In short, it’s time we stop undervaluing trees.

Contact Us For Details

BioEconomy Solutions is a BIOCHAR Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Project Developer. Talk to us about our biochar processing technology.

We’re happy to organize a time to speak with you about our paulownia trees and lumber we have for sale. Please book your preferred time to speak directly.

Here’s a link to my online calendar/schedule:

www.bioeconomysolutions.com/bookcall

BioEconomy Solutions

[email protected]

Office: 843.305.4777

Visit us at: https://bioeconomysolutions.com/paulownia-carbon-credits/ Let's chat about paulownia tree solutions for sustainable Forest carbon credits projects.

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