An in-depth look at the people and the science behind our attempts to pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere with direct air capture.

Drawing on interviews with stakeholders at the intersection of climate science, energy technology, and public policy, Paul McKendrick's investigation traces more than 20 years of technological development with direct air capture, from Biosphere 2; to multi-million dollar promises from Richard Branson, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk; to the opening of Orca, the world's largest commercial direct air capture facility, in Iceland in 2021.

The question of what will be necessary for direct air capture to reach a meaningful scale, and how much it will cost, has fueled intense scientific and political debate, and spurred a value chain that spans finance, industry, technology, policy, and academia.

McKendrick's clear and riveting prose presents the full story of this fascinating pursuit for the first time, inviting readers to learn more about this critical climate intervention option.
Contributor Bio(s)
 
Paul McKendrick is the author of The Bushman's Lair. Prior to writing books, he worked in the energy sector as a partner in a firm dedicated to developing and financing renewable energy projects, in addition to stints in the electric utility sector, the oil and gas sector, and investment banking. He lives in Canmore, Alberta, Canada.
 
 
Key Selling Points
AN INTRIGUING – AND CONTENTIOUS – AREA OF CLIMATE CHANGE INTERVENTION: Direct air capture is a contentious area of the clean energy transition debate. Some experts believe it is the only way to achieve net carbon emissions, while others contend that it can't work at the scale it is purported to. McKendrick is an interested industry observer who enters into this discussion by providing a grounded look at how the technology has evolved over time.
 
COMPLEX SUBJECT MADE ACCESSIBLE FOR A NON-ACADEMIC AUDIENCE: McKendrick's writing is clear and informative, and does an excellent job of making technical details accessible, with colourful anecdotes and  characters found throughout. We aren't aware of a previous book-length narrative treatment of this topic. 
 
RECENT GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN CARBON CAPTURE: The recent Inflation Reduction Act being considered in the Senate involves tax credits for carbon-capture programs.  See this recent NY Magazine interview with a chemist/researcher working in this area for a good breakdown of this topic: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/08/will-the-climate-bill-transform-the-carbon-capture-business.html
Quotes/Reviews
"A timely read."
—The Financial Times

"McKendrick’s meticulous reporting captures the birthing pains of direct air capture technology—pulling carbon dioxide out of the air—which, as the climate crisis worsens, could ultimately become one of the world’s most important industries."
—Justin Gillis, award-winning journalist, co-author of The Big Fix: Seven Practical Steps to Save Our Planet<

"How do we remove the carbon emissions we have already put into our atmosphere? In Scrubbing the Sky McKendrick tells a compelling story of the people and companies searching for the breakthrough that solves our biggest climate challenge. By connecting the dots from historical insights, McKendrick allows for failures and missteps, but leaves us with a sense of optimism that this seemingly impossible task may be within our reach."
—Peter McTeer, author of Sustainability is the New Advantage

“McKendrick’s carefully researched dive into the hidden science of direct air capture reads like a fast-paced adventure story—one with enormous implications for all of us.”
Alex Hutchinson, author of Endure and columnist for Outside and the Globe and Mail

Praise for The Bushman's Lair:

"The Bushman's Lair is a riveting, fast-paced, and suspenseful account of one of BC's most notorious and fascinating fugitives. Just as the Bushman carved out his own cave somewhere in the thick of woods along Shuswap Lake, author Paul McKendrick skillfully carves out the Bushman's engrossing story onto the page. The deeper McKendrick digs, the stranger the truth becomes."
—Grant Lawrence, CBC personality and author of Adventures in Solitude

"A must read. You won’t be disappointed."
—Sage Birchwater, The Ormsby Review
Unpublished Endorsements
"How do we remove the carbon emissions we have already put into our atmosphere? In Scrubbing the Sky McKendrick tells a compelling story of the people and companie ssearching for the breakthrough that solves our biggest climate challenge. By connecting the dots from historical insights, McKendrick allows for failures and missteps, but leaves us with a sense of optimism that this seemingly impossible task may be within our reach."
—Peter McTeer, author of Sustainability is the New Advantage
 
 “McKendrick’s carefully researched dive into the hidden science of direct air capture reads like a fast-paced adventure story—one with enormous implications for all of us.”
—Alex Hutchinson, columnist for Outside and the Globe & Mail, and author of Endure
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1—False Competition
Chapter 2—The Original Sky Scrubber
Chapter 3—Thermostatic Ambitions
Chapter 4—Hard Scrubbing
Chapter 5—Two Options
Chapter 6—DAC 1
Chapter 7—Orca
Chapter 8—Solar-Powered Pathway
Chapter 9—Customer Feedback
Chapter 10—Hyperion II
Chapter 11—The Prize 
Notes
Acknowledgments
Index