Air capture technology could be ready to install among flue accessories in the UK by 2018, it has been estimated.

This is the prediction of Britain's Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IME), which has founded a new device that is a thousand times more effective at absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere when compared to a tree of around the same size, reports Reuters.

Tim Fox, head of environment at the institution, told the news provider: "Apart from being a vital technology for dealing with difficult-to-manage emissions like those from aviation and shipping, this technology could also be a vital tool for setting a definitive price for CO2."

The technology could help to provide more investor assurance for companies that want to invest in large projects, such as the construction of power stations, Mr Fox asserted.

This month, Polarcus Limited confirmed that it has entered a research collaboration project with Cambridge Carbon Capture.

Both companies will work to decrease the CO2 emissions of ships, including Polarcus' fleet of 3D seismic vessels.