A new generation of AI-optimised carbon capture plants is demonstrating 40% higher efficiency than conventional designs, bringing the technology closer to economic viability.
The improvement comes from using AI to continuously optimise the chemical processes involved in capturing CO2 from industrial emissions and ambient air. Traditional plants operate on fixed parameters; AI-optimised plants adjust in real-time.
The cost of carbon capture has fallen from $600 per tonne in 2020 to $180 per tonne in 2026 for point-source capture. AI optimisation could push this below $100 per tonne by 2028 — the threshold many economists consider competitive with carbon taxes.
Climeworks, Carbon Engineering, and several startups are deploying AI-optimised systems. The largest facility, in Iceland, captures 36,000 tonnes of CO2 per year — roughly equivalent to taking 7,800 cars off the road.
The technology remains controversial. Critics argue that carbon capture provides a false sense of security and delays the transition away from fossil fuels. Proponents counter that some industrial emissions (cement, steel) cannot be eliminated and must be captured.