Renewables vs Carbon Capture: The Cost Debate

Is capturing and removing carbon from the air worth the cost? A new Stanford study suggests it isn’t—finding that switching to renewable energy is far cheaper and more effective than carbon capture.

The study was led by Stanford's Mark Jacobson, whose work has been cited more than 46,000 times over his career. He and his team analyzed 149 countries over the next 25 years and found that transitioning to wind, water, and solar (WWS) energy could cut energy demand by 54% and cost 60% less than carbon capture.

The investment would pay for itself in under six years, while health benefits from cleaner air would offset costs in less than a year.

But people are going to keep trying! Separately, University of Cambridge researchers say they have developed a reactor that pulls carbon dioxide directly from the air and converts it into sustainable fuel, using only sunlight as the power source!

This is a dynamic, multivariate, and adversarial situation, though - so no single factor (cost, pollution) is enough to determine the most viable path forward. A lot of removal of what's already in the air is going to be essential. But as the Stanford study says, "You can have the most efficient way of removing CO2 from the air, but that does not change the efficiency of combustion. You’re keeping that inefficient energy infrastructure the same. It’s much cheaper and more efficient just to replace the fossil source with electricity or heat provided by a renewable source.”

Why we scan the news

One of the most important reasons to scan the news like this is to enrich our understanding of these kinds of complex situations. The Stanford study suggests carbon removal isn’t cost-effective today, while the Cambridge research points to promising innovations.

A nuanced understanding of these kinds of situations increases our odds of success in dealing with them.

And now, to enrich your understanding of the work you're doing, we offer you the best updates from around the green tech and sustainability world today. Email subscribers get 3 just for you.

-Marshall Kirkpatrick

Earth Catalyst: We provide thought leadership support systems and bespoke consulting for green tech and sustainability organizations.

 

Today and every day, our system scans over 1,000 green tech and sustainability organizations for updates. Below, you'll find:

• A Visual of the Day

• A digest-style Table of Contents for 50 selected updates from around the green tech and sustainability world

• (If you subscribe by email) 3 personalized selections just for you and your work

Did a friend forward you this newsletter? Welcome! You can subscribe here and get your own personal recommendations each day.

Visual of the Day

Mapped: How extreme weather is destroying crops around the world

A new analysis by Carbon Brief of media coverage shows how extreme weather disrupted global food systems over the past two years. That article is filled with charts, graphs, and quotes describing the cascading impacts of increasingly frequent crop failure driven by extreme weather.

Today's Updates

Table of Contents

• Agriculture (1 story) - Solar Foods advances pre-engineering for large-scale protein facility

  
  

• Carbon (1 story) - Wind, water & solar outperform carbon capture by 54% efficiency, 60% cost in Stanford global analysis

  
  

• Ecosystems (5 stories) - Pacific Northwest wetland restoration, Florida red tide crisis, Great Lakes ice monitoring, Indigenous land management initiatives, and global disease pattern shifts amid climate change

  
  

• Efficiency (1 story) - Albina Vision Trust's 94-unit solar-powered, gas-free housing project advances energy-efficient affordable living

  
  

• Finance (2 stories) - DOE funding uncertainty prompts VC alternatives; WWU secures $156K Beckman grant

  
  

• Grid (5 stories) - Record solar penetration in NSW, Oregon microgrid legislation, Queensland's Borumba hydro project, Texas grid strain, National Grid EV study

  
  

• Indigenous (5 stories) - Native groups in Brazil, Mexico, Peru, UK and Portland advance land restoration, clean energy and food sovereignty through Friends of Tryon Creek, traditional knowledge initiatives and UN advocacy

  
  

• Industry (4 stories) - MMG expands wind project to 144MW; miners deploy IoT monitoring; Texas approves contested disposal site; Montana SAF plant gets $1.44B DOE loan

  
  

• Policy (18 stories) - Trump administration blocks $19B in EPA grants and Paris withdrawal while 133 mayors defend clean energy credits; Victoria fast-tracks renewables as Australia's largest tender closes

  
  

• Renewables (3 stories) - MSU study on dual-use solar siting, while Brooklyn-PR community projects and Asian government tenders expand PV deployment

  
  

• Transport (5 stories) - CAA winter EV tests, Ethio Telecom's 32-bay charging hub, Hyundai's nuclear ship design, NASCAR's Daytona EV chargers, Oregon Walks' school program

Agriculture

Solar Foods advances pre-engineering for large-scale protein facility

• Solar Foods initiates Factory 02 pre-engineering with targeted operational start in 2028 (Solar Foods) - Finnish biotech company begins pre-engineering phase for industrial-scale protein production facility with 2028 operational target.

Carbon

Wind, water & solar outperform carbon capture by 54% efficiency, 60% cost in Stanford global analysis

• Renewables More Cost Effective Than Direct Or Indirect Carbon Capture (CleanTechnica) - Stanford study finds wind, water, and solar energy solutions 54% more energy efficient and 60% cheaper than carbon capture technologies across 149 countries.

Ecosystems

Pacific Northwest wetland restoration, Florida red tide crisis, Great Lakes ice monitoring, Indigenous land management initiatives, and global disease pattern shifts amid climate change

• 💚 Making a positive impact, right here at home 💚 (Sustainable Northwest) - Conservation organization highlights 14,000-acre wetland restoration, forest management initiatives, and clean energy projects across Pacific Northwest in 2024 review.

• DeSantis urged to declare emergency over toxic red tide algae off Florida coast (The Guardian) - Florida environmentalists urge Gov. DeSantis to declare emergency as toxic red tide algae bloom threatens beaches, kills marine life along Gulf Coast.

• Environmental Degradation, Climate Change and Infectious Diseases: What’s the Link? (Earth.org) - Climate change and environmental degradation directly increase infectious disease risks by altering pathogen habitats, vector distributions, and transmission patterns globally.

• One project breaking through funding uncertainties (Grist) - Great Lakes ice-fishing anglers contribute vital ice thickness data through $5M IRA-funded community science project, despite funding uncertainty under Trump administration.

• The High Price of Paradise in ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3 (Atmos) - HBO's White Lotus Season 3 highlights Thailand's overtourism crisis and environmental damage from luxury resorts, while series' filming locations see surge in bookings.

Efficiency

Albina Vision Trust's 94-unit solar-powered, gas-free housing project advances energy-efficient affordable living

• PCEF Grantee Albina Vision Trust | JT Flowers (Portland Clean Energy Fund) - Albina Vision Trust receives grant for 94-unit affordable housing development featuring energy efficiency upgrades, solar panels, and zero gas usage in historically Black Portland neighborhood.

Finance

DOE funding uncertainty prompts VC alternatives; WWU secures $156K Beckman grant

• 🌎 The working capital playbook for climate startups (CTVC) - Climate tech startups urged to diversify funding beyond venture capital through working capital strategies amid DOE funding uncertainty.

• Grant brings new research mentorship opportunity (WWU Today) - Western Washington University receives $156,000 Beckman Foundation grant to support undergraduate research mentorship program starting Summer 2025.

Grid

Record solar penetration in NSW, Oregon microgrid legislation, Queensland's Borumba hydro project, Texas grid strain, National Grid EV study

• “Miles lower:” Rooftop PV takes biggest bite yet out of grid demand in Australia’s biggest coal state (RenewEconomy) - Rooftop solar in New South Wales hits record 60% share of electricity demand, causing unprecedented drop in grid demand for Australia's largest coal state.

• Microgrids SOCAN Testimony on Microgrid Bills HB 2064, 2065 and 2066 (SOCAN) - Oregon climate advocacy group testifies in support of three microgrid bills to enhance energy resilience amid increasing wildfire and earthquake risks.

• Queensland pushes ahead with Borumba pumped hydro despite cost blowout and renewable pause (RenewEconomy) - Queensland government proceeds with $18 billion Borumba pumped hydro project despite cost increases, while canceling other renewable initiatives.

• Texas grid shortfall on the horizon (Canary Media) - Texas grid faces potential power shortfall as demand surges and Trump policy threatens solar and battery installations.

• UK’s National Grid Does Some Mythbusting (CleanTechnica) - UK's National Grid debunks common myths about electric vehicle impacts on power infrastructure, demonstrating EVs require only fraction of grid capacity compared to perceived demand.

Indigenous

Native groups in Brazil, Mexico, Peru, UK and Portland advance land restoration, clean energy and food sovereignty through Friends of Tryon Creek, traditional knowledge initiatives and UN advocacy

• 🌎 Meli updates (Meli Network) - Indigenous communities across Brazil, Mexico, Peru and UK collaborate on agroforestry, traditional knowledge preservation, and sustainable farming initiatives.

• PCEF Grantee Friends of Tryon Creek | Lili, Nanda, and Gabe (Portland Clean Energy Fund) - Indigenous leaders at Friends of Tryon Creek receive grant to restore traditional land management practices and create paid opportunities for BIPOC youth in Portland forest.

• PCEF Grantee Northwest Native Chamber | Amber Faist (Northwest Native Chamber) - Indigenous-led organization receives grant to develop clean energy contractors and perform home retrofits for Portland communities while incorporating traditional values.

• PCEF Grantee The Uprise Collective | Brianna Bragg (Portland Clean Energy Fund) - Indigenous-led collective receives planning grant to develop accessible food and medicine garden integrating traditional ecological knowledge with disability access needs.

• Uplift U.S. Indigenous Rights + Build Movement (Cultural Survival) - UN Universal Periodic Review process offers Indigenous peoples opportunity to review US human rights record in 2025, with detailed submission and advocacy guidelines.

Industry

MMG expands wind project to 144MW; miners deploy IoT monitoring; Texas approves contested disposal site; Montana SAF plant gets $1.44B DOE loan

• Giant zinc mine trebles size of wind project to dodge crippling costs of gas power (RenewEconomy) - Australian zinc mining giant MMG triples planned wind farm to 144MW to reduce dependence on expensive gas power at Dugald River site.

• Optimizing Tailings Pond Performance through Data Analytics (KETOS) - Mining industry adopts data analytics and IoT sensors to improve tailings pond safety, environmental monitoring, and operational efficiency.

• Railroad Commission Approves More Waste Disposal in East Texas (InsideClimateNews) - Texas Railroad Commission overrules staff recommendation and approves oilfield waste disposal facility in Paxton despite groundwater contamination concerns.

• SAF refinery resumes takeoff (Canary Media) - Montana sustainable aviation fuel refinery receives first $1.44B DOE loan under Trump administration despite broader funding freeze.

Policy

Trump administration blocks $19B in EPA grants and Paris withdrawal while 133 mayors defend clean energy credits; Victoria fast-tracks renewables as Australia's largest tender closes

• ‘Everything we had floated away’: Hurricane Helene survivors help each other as disinformation swirls (The Guardian) - Rural Appalachian communities struggle to rebuild amid disinformation and limited government aid four months after Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic flooding and $60bn in damage.

• ‘It is going to be terrible’: a senior in Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley’ prepares for Trump’s dismantling of hard-won environmental progress (The Guardian) - Louisiana 'Cancer Alley' resident Robert Taylor faces potential reversal of environmental protections as Trump administration moves to dismantle pollution reforms near toxic chemical plant.

• A Love Letter for Black History Month (Bonsai Leadership Group) - Environmental nonprofit highlights Black leaders driving equity and innovation in marine science, outdoor recreation, and environmental justice during Black History Month.

• A tale of two suckers: Donald Trump’s plastic straws and Keir Starmer | Stewart Lee (The Guardian) - Trump's plastic straw reinstatement and anti-environmental policies signal broader political concerns as Keir Starmer avoids confrontation on key issues.

• Bids for Australia’s biggest wind and solar tender close on Tuesday. Will it be the last? (RenewEconomy) - Australia's largest wind and solar tender closes Tuesday amid uncertainty over future tenders as upcoming federal election threatens renewable energy policies.

• Climate and Environmental Justice Programs Stalled by Trump Freeze, Despite Court Orders (Inside Climate News) - Trump administration continues blocking $19 billion in EPA environmental justice grants despite court orders to resume funding.

• ESG Today: Week in Review (ESG Today) - SEC reconsiders climate reporting rules while SBTi delays Net Zero Standard timeline amid multiple state-level climate policy developments and major sustainable finance announcements.

• FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oil Executive as AER CEO Undermines Oversight (Keepers of the Water) - Indigenous water protection group criticizes appointment of oil industry executive as Alberta Energy Regulator CEO, citing conflict of interest concerns.

• Mayors across the US urge Congress not to repeal clean energy tax credits (Grist) - 133 US mayors urge Congress to protect clean energy tax credits that created 400,000 jobs and $422 billion in investments, warning repeal would harm Republican-led states most.

• Renewable Energy Projects That Kowtow To King Trump And King Musk Get Funded (CleanTechnica) - Montana Renewables secures $1.7B federal loan for renewable jet fuel expansion after navigating Trump administration's funding freeze through political alignment.

• SOCAN and the 2025 Oregon Legislative Session (SOCAN) - Oregon climate advocacy group tracking over 50 bills in 2025 state legislative session.

• The LA fires burned down a thriving Black community. Residents are afraid of being ‘erased’ (The Guardian) - Historic Black community in Altadena, Los Angeles faces erasure and inequitable treatment after devastating Eaton fire destroys nearly half of Black households.

• Trump’s Energy Agenda And Its Impact On Clean Technology And Workers (Forbes) - Trump's executive orders to withdraw from Paris Agreement and halt green energy funding threaten $86.3 billion in clean tech investments and 74,000 jobs while pushing fossil fuel expansion.

• Unnatural Disasters (Joel 2, Matthew 6) (Christianity Today) - Religious scholars discuss intersection of climate crisis, eco-spirituality, and racial justice in ministry, highlighting need for theological responses to environmental challenges.

• Victoria fast tracks small wind and giant battery projects under new planning rules (RenewEconomy) - Victoria streamlines approval process for wind and battery projects, cutting renewable energy development time from two years to four months.

• You’re Invited: Covering Trump’s Climate Blitzkrieg (Covering Climate Now) - Journalism initiative announces webinar on covering Trump administration's aggressive anti-climate policies and media strategy.

• Decoding Entergy’s Plan IRP Teach-In (RenewableWatch) - Entergy New Orleans faces criticism for opaque IRP planning process favoring gas over renewables, with stakeholders urging more transparent solar and battery storage integration.

• Protesters target Tesla showrooms in US over Elon Musk’s government cost-cutting (The Guardian) - Protesters gather at Tesla showrooms across US cities opposing CEO Elon Musk's role in Trump administration's government spending cuts.

Renewables

MSU study on dual-use solar siting, while Brooklyn-PR community projects and Asian government tenders expand PV deployment

• Greenfields vs. developed land for solar is a false choice, Michigan expert says (Bridge Michigan) - Michigan State researcher argues solar projects should be built on both greenfields and developed land rather than choosing between them.

• Solar Power to the People - Trailer (Volts) - Communities across US from Brooklyn to Puerto Rico lead grassroots solar power initiatives, combining climate action with energy independence and local economic benefits.

• Global Solar PV Tender News Snippets (TaiyangNews) - Multiple Asian nations including Maldives, Bangladesh and India launch new solar power tenders through government agencies.

Transport

CAA winter EV tests, Ethio Telecom's 32-bay charging hub, Hyundai's nuclear ship design, NASCAR's Daytona EV chargers, Oregon Walks' school program

• Canadian Know-How: EVs Aren’t Useless In The Cold (CleanTechnica) - Canadian Automobile Association winter testing shows EVs remain functional in cold weather with 14-39% range reduction, contradicting common misconceptions.

• Ethio Telecom Launches Ultra-Fast EV Charging Hub in Addis Ababa (CleanTechnica) - Ethio Telecom launches East Africa's largest EV charging hub in Addis Ababa with 32 simultaneous charging bays, including eight 600kW ultra-fast chargers.

• Hyundai to Offer Container Ships Powered by SMRs (EnergyNews) - Hyundai develops nuclear-powered container ship design using small modular reactors, aims for first vessel by 2030 with improved efficiency and zero emissions.

• NASCAR Blows Off Trump’s Attack On EV Charging Stations (CleanTechnica) - NASCAR installs 30 EV charging stations at Daytona headquarters and showcases ABB EV prototype, defying Trump's anti-EV stance.

• PCEF Grantee Oregon Walks | Sara Etter (Portland Clean Energy Fund) - Oregon Walks launches paid walking school bus program in Portland schools to reduce emissions, create jobs, and improve attendance while fostering community connections.