Is capturing carbon directly from power plants possible? And is there any useful applications for the captured carbon?

Question

Title.

I feel like the only way electric cars can be truly “environment friendly” is if the carbon produced is captured at the plants.

Not sure if it’s at all possible, though.

In: Engineering

Answer 1

Yes, you can capture it. There are several useful applications for captured carbon though not necessarily economical. One area of research I’ve kept an eye on over the years is artificial photosynthesis where catalysts and solar energy split water to form oxygen and hydrogen and the hydrogen then used with another catalyst and CO2 (or other carbon-molecule needing reduction) to form a carbohydrate. The carbohydrate could be ethanol which could be used as fuel as an example allowing for the chemical storage of solar energy to be used on demand later similar to a battery.