On 23rd April 2025, City Science hosted a webinar exploring the feasibility of large-scale Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS) deployment in the UK. The session was based on findings from our latest report, Assessing the Feasibility for Large-Scale DACCS Deployment in the UK, commissioned by the Climate Change Committee (CCC) to inform the Seventh Carbon Budget (7CB).
What We Covered
Our expert speakers, Joe McQuillen CEng and Dr Heather Goodwin, provided an objective and grounded analysis of DACCS, a technology that remains both controversial and potentially crucial for achieving net zero emissions.
The session explored:
- The case for DAC – Why it may be needed alongside emissions reduction.
- Uncomfortable truths – Challenges in scaling such a nascent technology.
- UK-specific drivers and needs – What makes the UK a unique case.
- Constraints and inhibitors – Land use, energy demand, infrastructure.
- Cost considerations – How much could DACCS really cost?
- Deployment questions – Should we be doing this here, or at all?
- UK advantages – What the UK has going for it in this space.
Participants also engaged in a live Q&A, sharing their perspectives and probing deeper into the uncertainties surrounding DACCS.
Watch the Recording
If you missed the session or would like to revisit it, we’ve made a recording available.
Why This Matters
With atmospheric CO₂ concentrations at just ~0.04%, the technical and economic hurdles of extracting carbon directly from the air are immense. Yet DACCS could play a vital role in balancing residual emissions from hard-to-abate sectors and helping the UK meet its climate targets. This webinar was a step toward understanding whether this potential can become reality and at what cost.
Continue the Conversation
We’re grateful to everyone who joined us live and contributed their questions and insights. If you’d like to discuss the report, its implications, or any other aspect of DACCS deployment, we’d love to hear from you.
Feel free to contact us to learn more or arrange a follow-up conversation.