Life-cycle levelized cost and carbon removal efficiency of solid sorbent direct air carbon capture and storage in China

Direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS) is recognized as one of the most promising large-scale negative emission technologies (NETs), offering substantial potential for mitigating atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. In this study, we developed a comprehensive full-chain solid sorbent DACCS system assessment model that integrates all key stages, including DAC plant construction, CO₂ capture, compression, transport, and storage. This model was applied to 28 provinces across China to evaluate the life-cycle levelized cost of CO₂ removal (LCOD) and carbon removal efficiency (CRE) of DACCS systems powered by 36 different energy supply configurations. The results indicate that: (1) The combination of waste hot water and coal power yields the lowest LCOD ($260/t CO₂), but with a limited CRE of 30 %. In contrast, pairing waste steam with nuclear power achieves the highest CRE (97 %) at a similarly low LCOD ($264/t CO₂). (2) Photovoltaic-driven DACCS reaches the highest LCOD ($1358∼1502/t CO₂) at 1211 annual operating hours, while hydropower-driven systems, benefiting from much longer annual operation (3349 h), achieve both a high average CRE (78 %) and a significantly lower LCOD ($529∼622/t CO₂). (3) Coastal provinces such as Guangxi and Guangdong, where waste hot water and nuclear power are accessible, offer the optimal balance between low LCOD ($243∼249/t CO₂) and high CRE (>97 %). Additionally, regions such as Yunnan (hydropower), Inner Mongolia (wind power), and Chongqing (photovoltaic power) demonstrate strong potential for renewable energy-driven DACCS deployment.