Direct air capture of CO2 in the Republic of Ireland. Is it necessary?

Global temperature will surpass the threshold of 1.5 degrees C in the next decade. The implementation and the development of modern technologies, such as Direct Air Capture (DAC) will play a key role in mitigating climate change. The article exhibits the most updated information to emphasise the importance of expanding its commercialisation and social acceptance in the Republic of Ireland. This literature review provides background on the energy demand and the emissions related to the consumption across the country. The study highlights the methods to remove permanently the CO2 from the atmosphere and its uses for sectors that find difficulties to decarbonise. The Republic of Ireland set an ambitious plan to finish its dependence on fossil fuels. Yet, its emissions will remain constant regardless of the measures taken. Thus, there is a strong reliance on fossil fuels from specific sectors that will keep polluting in the near future. Certain countries and business are funding projects to remove the CO2 from the atmosphere. Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland is putting aside these alternatives. The time scheduled to switch towards a free carbon economy is tight. Hence, could the Republic of Ireland meet its climate goals without DAC? Overall, we conclude that there are numerous gaps to fill only with renewables and ignoring alternatives such as DAC can be counterproductive. Therefore, the information provided aims to assess the current state of the technology, as well as show the benefits of investing in DAC. Future studies should focus on the viability of implementing DAC in the Republic of Ireland. (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.