Scrubbing Carbon Dioxide From the Air Could Be Cheaper Than Thought (Corrected)

Scrubbing carbon dioxide from the ambient air might be a cheaper gamble than previously thought, possibly boosting a potential solution to climate change that has been criticized as unrealistic, according to new research by a Canadian company developing direct-air-capture technology.

Carbon Engineering Ltd. says it can suck carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere to be converted into a transportation fuel or sequestered underground for between $94 and $232 per ton of carbon dioxide, a fraction of the cost—up to $1,000 per ton—of previous estimates.

“Hopefully, this will help turn this technology from something that’s pie-in-the-sky magic to something middle ...