Advertisement
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.
Hi all, please see this major site announcement: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058427594/boards-ie-2026

Some crowd in Dublin are trying to suck Co2 from the atmosphere

  • 10-01-2021 11:27PM
    #1
    Ubbquittious
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,371 ✭✭✭


    Anyone know them and if the tech lives up to the hype?


    https://mechanicaltrees.com/mechanicaltrees/


    There is usually a snag with these. Usually high cost, high energy input or low durability. But I hope they find a way around what obstacles they may face


Comments

  • #2
    Witchie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,597 ✭✭✭Witchie


    Sounds a bit like Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. They have solar capabilities and help the environment.


  • #3
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 98,142 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    snakeoil MechanicalTreesTM require no energy for CO2 capture.

    No mention of the energy to separate the CO2 from the capture mechanism so it can be reused again.

    It's like suggesting you can use a fully charged battery now, and ignoring that you have to recharge it to use it again.

    There are LOTS of ways to remove CO2.

    Exposing bedrock in arid areas might be the easiest one to scale up. Things like bucket wheel excavators are already electrically powered. So you don't even need huge amounts of fossil fuel.

    Dumping a bulk cargo carrier worth of iron fertilizer into the ocean might be easier. Let algae / plankton do the work.


  • #4
    kyote00
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,711 ✭✭✭kyote00


    Why not just plant real trees ?


  • #5
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 98,142 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    kyote00 wrote: »
    Why not just plant real trees ?
    Don't you mean Von Neumann machines that can self replicate autonomously using raw materials found in the environment ? Something something AI and blockchain.

    Plants in the right place and grown sustainably are good. eg: Long term commercial softwood to paper to landfill is a great way of burying carbon

    Draining a bog in Indonesia to grow palm oil, won't even come close to being carbon neutral until the middle of the next century.


Advertisement
Advertisement