Researchers are evaluating the use of on-site Direct Air Capture (DAC) to provide CO2 enrichment for high-tech greenhouses in hot-desert regions. This approach aims to replace the current reliance on trucked liquid CO2, which is costly and carries a high carbon footprint due to transport and industrial production. The study finds that DAC systems, specifically temperature-vacuum-swing and moisture-swing models, can be cost-competitive when powered by low-cost solar PV. By integrating carbon capture with renewable energy, desert greenhouses can increase crop yields for tomatoes and lettuce while significantly lowering their overall greenhouse gas emissions.
