As violent storms like Hurricane Ida become more common as we collectively destroy the only planet we live on, scientists are looking for a new technology that enables a much more active climate solution: carbon capture.

The latest attempt is one new facility opened in Iceland by Climeworks, and it could serve as a blueprint for the future.

• The Orca facility opened on Wednesday and can extract 4,000 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere annually.
• Compared to other air conditioning solutions, this one is easy to use. It simply pushes air into filters with large fans, which capture CO2 and mix it with water.
• This CO2 is then pumped into underground basalt caverns, where it cools and solidifies to stone.
• This way it is safely protected from danger, but the trapped CO2 can also be sensibly used to create fuel, fertilize crops or even carbonate your fizzy drinks.
• The plant itself is operated with climate-friendly geothermal energy, which is in abundance in Iceland.

But is it enough?

• Currently, Climeworks estimates that each tonne of CO2 to capture would cost $ 600-800. To make a profit, the cost would need to be cut to around $ 100 per ton.
• However, states like California are already offering electric car owners $ 500 in subsidies for every ton of CO2 emissions avoided throughout the vehicle’s life cycle. In comparison, the cost looks a lot more reasonable.
• Plus, this is a new technology and costs are expected to drop dramatically over time.
• Climeworks co-founder Christoph Gebalt estimates that prices should be between 200 and 300 US dollars per ton by 2030.
• The real question is whether it can be scaled up to really tackle the problem. the International Energy Agency It is estimated that we will have to remove a billion tons of CO2 from the atmosphere annually by 2050.
• The current 4,000-ton facility accounts for 0.0004% of that.
• But hey, it’s a start! Look at how dramatically the cost of solar power has fallen over the past few decades. This could be another key piece of the puzzle.
• Maybe there is a future for our children after all.