The Economist reports on Kenya’s ability to lead in carbon removal.
- Kenya’s Great Rift Valley has favorable geography that makes it an ideal location for carbon removal.
- Direct air capture (DAC) plants need vast amounts of energy to operate. The Great Rift Valley’s earth crust is thinner, which means it is easier to tap into the power of carbon-free geothermal.
- Additionally, the region has bands of porous volcanic rock which holds captured CO2 well.
- With ample private and public sector interest in the area, Kenya could soon be a leader in carbon removal.
“Because the earth’s crust is thinner than usual along the rift, it has vast geothermal potential. The American government reckons Kenya alone could generate 10,000mw of geothermal power, more than ten times the amount it currently produces. A by-product of such power stations is plenty of waste steam, which can then be used to heat dac machines. Moreover, since close to 90% of Kenya’s power is renewable, the electricity these machines consume does not contribute to more global warming.”
Read the full article here.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.
