Getting the Economics of Carbon Capture Right

Direct air capture has long been too costly and energy-intensive to scale. But economist Ethan Cohen‑Cole is changing the equation. As CEO of Capture6, he’s embedding carbon removal into water infrastructure—cutting brine disposal costs, generating fresh water, and mineralizing CO₂ in one modular system.In this episode, Ethan shares how Capture6 is turning industrial waste into a climate asset by avoiding energy-intensive heat steps and integrating directly into existing desalination and wastewater systems. Learn how this approach flips the economic model of carbon removal—unlocking cost-effective, globally scalable projects that don’t rely on subsidies or voluntary carbon markets. Tune in to hear how better economics make carbon capture viable.--- Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts! Searching for new podcasts on sustainability? Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions. Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies.Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact. Tune in on…YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726…to listen to the latest episodes!Timestamps:00:56 – Why removals must scale01:28 – From economist to climate founder05:09 – What makes DAC expensive10:18 – Capture6’s unique solution13:01 – Brine as feedstock16:59 – Rethinking carbon economics20:46 – Storage, value, and durability27:23 – Scaling through replication31:25 – Project execution + capex35:16 – Vision for global impactUseful links: Capture6 website: https://capture6.com/Capture6 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/capture6/Ethan Cohen-Cole’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecohencole/Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/