Latest news with #directaircapture
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Inside the world's biggest 'carbon-sucking' machine
Developed by Zurich-based firm Climeworks, the 'direct air capture' (DAC) site uses huge steel fans to draw in CO2, dissolve the gas in water, and pump it deep underground. Scientists at Climeworks say the multi-million dollar system removes up to 36,000 tons of carbon per year – equivalent to taking 8,000 cars off the road. And the UK government is so impressed with the technology, it's planning a carbon-British carbon-sucking machine based in the north-west. However, critics warn that the expensive tech does not tackle a root cause of global warming – the release of CO2 from burning of fossil fuels. Environmental organization Greenpeace has called carbon capture a 'scam' that relies on money from 'the public purse'. About 10 times bigger than its predecessor plant Orca , Mammoth began construction in June 2022 and operations commenced in May last year. Mammoth consists of stacks of metal 'air scrubbers' that draw in surrounding ambient air with fans, using energy from a nearby geothermal power plant. Solid filter material separates the CO2, which is then transported by jets of high-pressure blasts of water to a location deep underground. Over a few years, the CO2 turns into a solid mineral called carbonate when it touches certain rocks that are rich in metals like iron, calcium and magnesium. Climeworks said the technology can easily be replicated at different locations worldwide and on ever larger scales, to scale up the amount of CO2 being captured. At its maximum capacity of 36,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, it could reduce global emissions by the equivalent of 7,800 petrol-powered cars. However, that impressive figure is only equivalent to 30 seconds of the world's annual CO2 emissions – which is why they're being considered elsewhere around the world. Inspired by Mammoth, the UK government has begun negotiations with Climeworks based in Zurich to set up an equivalent machine, called Silver Birch. The device, to be constructed in Stanlow near Liverpool, would suck carbon from the surrounding air and store it under the Irish Sea. The plans, being developed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, come under the HyNet North West project to reduce carbon emissions and help the UK hit its net zero target. Aside from the cost, carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been criticized for encouraging continued use of carbon-belching fossil fuels rather than switching to renewable sources of energy. Mike Childs, head of policy at environmental organization Friends of the Earth, said the government is just 'championing more costly and dirty fossil fuels'. 'Even if it ever worked, which is unlikely in the near term, CCS won't capture all the climate pollution caused by burning fossil fuels or address the significant emissions that are created when gas and oil is extracted.' Stuart Haszeldine, a professor of carbon capture and storage at the University of Edinburgh, called CCS projects 'a deal with the devil'. 'Storage of 2 or 5 million tonnes CO2 per year should not become a policy excuse to release additional 10s or 100s million tonnes CO2 from development of new oil and gas extraction through many tens of new licences,' Professor Haszeldine said. Others point out that the process itself is very energy intensive and so could drive up energy prices. The technology also has safety concerns – after being stored underground, some experts fear that CO2 could leak and taint nearby water supplies or create tremors caused by the build-up of pressure underground.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mail
Inside the world's biggest 'carbon-sucking' machine: Enormous device in Iceland dubbed 'Mammoth' captures up to 36,000 TONS of CO2 per year - and could help 'reverse climate change'
It has been billed as an ingenious solution in the battle against climate change. And from photos alone, the true purpose of the 'Mammoth' machine stationed in Iceland may deceive you. The 360ft contraption, located at Hellisheidi, about 15 miles from capital Reykjavik, is literally sucking carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air. Developed by Zurich-based firm Climeworks, the 'direct air capture' (DAC) site uses huge steel fans to draw in CO2, dissolve the gas in water, and pump it deep underground. Scientists at Climeworks say the multi-million dollar system removes up to 36,000 tons of carbon per year – equivalent to taking 8,000 cars off the road. And the UK government is so impressed with the technology, it's planning a carbon-British carbon-sucking machine based in the north-west. However, critics warn that the expensive tech does not tackle a root cause of global warming – the release of CO2 from burning of fossil fuels. Environmental organisation Greenpeace has called carbon capture a 'scam' that relies on money from 'the public purse'. Swiss firm Climeworks unveiled its second plant in Iceland sucking carbon dioxide from the air and stocking it underground, scaling up its capacity tenfold with the aim of eliminating millions of tonnes of CO2 by 2030 About 10 times bigger than its predecessor plant Orca, Mammoth began construction in June 2022 and operations commenced in May last year. Mammoth consists of stacks of metal 'air scrubbers' that draw in surrounding ambient air with fans, using energy from a nearby geothermal power plant. Solid filter material separates the CO2, which is then transported by jets of high-pressure blasts of water to a location deep underground. Over a few years, the CO2 turns into a solid mineral called carbonate when it touches certain rocks that are rich in metals like iron, calcium and magnesium. It therefore stores it safely as a solid underground, reducing the amount of the greenhouse gas that reaches the atmosphere. Climeworks explains: 'Through natural mineralisation, the CO2 reacts with the basalt rock and turns into stone within a few years. 'The CO2 is thus removed from the air and returned to Earth permanently and safely.' Climeworks said the technology can easily be replicated at different locations worldwide and on ever larger scales, to scale up the amount of CO2 being captured. The resulting mixture of CO2 and water is injected into the volcanic basalt beneath the plant where it slowly turns into rock What is direct air capture? Direct air capture (DAC) technology works almost exactly like it sounds. Giant fans draw ambient air into contact with an aqueous solution that picks out and traps carbon dioxide. Through heating and a handful of familiar chemical reactions, that same carbon dioxide is re-extracted and ready for further use -as a carbon source for making valuable chemicals like fuels, or for storage via a sequestration strategy of choice. The resulting fuels, including gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, are compatible with existing fuel distribution and transportation infrastructure. At its maximum capacity of 36,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, it could reduce global emissions by the equivalent of 7,800 petrol-powered cars. However, that impressive figure is only equivalent to 30 seconds of the world's annual CO2 emissions – which is why they're being considered elsewhere around the world. Inspired by Mammoth, the UK government has begun negotiations with Climeworks based in Zurich to set up an equivalent machine, called Silver Birch. The device, to be constructed in Stanlow near Liverpool, would suck carbon from the surrounding air and store it under the Irish Sea. The plans, being developed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, come under the HyNet North West project to reduce carbon emissions and help the UK hit its net zero target. But for now, the two HyNet projects being prioritised are a new new gas-fired power station with carbon capture technology in Wales, and a biomass plant in Cheshire that will generate low-carbon energy from waste wood. The exact cost of building a plant like Mammoth is unclear, although Iceland's impressive store of natural resources mean it can afford such ambitious climate projects. Douglas Chan, COO of Climeworks, told The Chemical Engineer that the cost to build was 'in the order of low triple digit millions'. Climeworks did not detail the cost per ton of removal at Mammoth, but said it is seeking to reduce it to $400-600 per ton by 2030 and $200-350 per ton by 2040. Aside from the cost, carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been criticised for encouraging continued use of carbon-belching fossil fuels rather than switching to renewable sources of energy. Mike Childs, head of policy at environmental organisation Friends of the Earth, said the government is just 'championing more costly and dirty fossil fuels'. 'Even if it ever worked, which is unlikely in the near term, CCS won't capture all the climate pollution caused by burning fossil fuels or address the significant emissions that are created when gas and oil is extracted.' Stuart Haszeldine, a professor of carbon capture and storage at the University of Edinburgh, called CCS projects 'a deal with the devil'. 'Storage of 2 or 5 million tonnes CO2 per year should not become a policy excuse to release additional 10s or 100s million tonnes CO2 from development of new oil and gas extraction through many tens of new licences,' Professor Haszeldine said. Others point out that the process itself is very energy intensive and so could drive up energy prices. The technology also has safety concerns – after being stored underground, some experts fear that CO2 could leak and taint nearby water supplies or create tremors caused by the build-up of pressure underground. WHAT IS CARBON CAPTURING AND HOW DOES IT WORK? Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) captures emissions produced from the use of fossil fuels in electricity generation and industrial processes. It aims to prevent the carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere and is able to capture up to 90 per cent of the carbon dioxide (CO2) they emit. The use of CCS with renewable biomass is one of the few carbon abatement technologies that can be used in a 'carbon-negative' mode – actually taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. The process consists of three parts - capturing the carbon dioxide; transporting the carbon dioxide; and securely storing the carbon dioxide emissions. These can be stored underground in depleted oil and gas fields or deep saline aquifer formations. Carbon capture technologies allow the separation of carbon dioxide from gases produced in electricity generation and industrial processes by one of three methods: pre-combustion capture; post-combustion capture; and oxyfuel combustion. Carbon dioxide is then transported by pipeline or by ship for safe storage. Millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide are already transported annually for commercial purposes by road tanker, ship and pipelines. The carbon dioxide is then stored in carefully selected geological rock formation that are typically located several miles below the earth's surface.
Arab News
28-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Energy minister inaugurates carbon capture unit at KAPSARC
RIYADH: A new test unit for carbon capture technology was inaugurated by Saudi Arabia's energy minister on Sunday following its installation at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center in Riyadh. Developed in partnership with Swiss company Climeworks, the unit is already operational, capturing carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. A key objective of the project is to assess the unit's performance under the Kingdom's harsh climatic conditions and high temperatures, differing from similar technologies employed in colder countries. The inauguration follows an announcement in March from Saudi Aramco, which launched the Kingdom's first direct air capture test unit. The new unit highlights Saudi Arabia's commitment to advancing the circular carbon economy by deploying direct air capture solutions in pursuit of its climate objectives aligned with Vision 2030 sustainability goals. It also demonstrates the economic potential of localizing direct air capture technologies, leveraging the country's vast renewable energy resources. The installation of the unit is part of a broader feasibility study launched after a memorandum of understanding was signed last December during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum. Saudi Arabia has announced a target to capture and utilize up to 44 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually by 2035 through the development of major Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage hubs in the eastern and western regions. These centers will be designed to collect industrial emissions and convert captured carbon into high-value products. Ongoing studies are also exploring the potential to localize key materials and components of carbon capture systems, enhancing opportunities to build a robust domestic supply chain for the emerging sector.
Forbes
22-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The UK Just Created A Regulated Market For Carbon Removals
Big Ben with bridge over Thames and flag of England against blue sky in London, England, UK We're used to thinking of carbon markets as a punishment mechanism—a tax in disguise for those who pollute. But what happens when the same system starts to reward the people actively cleaning up the atmosphere? After months of consultation, the UK government has laid out a clear path: greenhouse gas removals—including engineered solutions like direct air capture (DAC) and enhanced weathering—will become part of the country's carbon market by the end of this decade. If you're in the weeds of carbon policy, this is a watershed moment. If you're not, here's why it matters: it means corporations will soon be able to buy carbon removal credits in a regulated market—and carbon removal companies will, for the first time, have a predictable, price-driven demand signal for cleaning up the atmosphere. Until now, carbon removals—like DAC, biochar, or enhanced weathering—have mostly lived in the voluntary market, propped up by early-adopter buyers like Microsoft, Stripe, and Shopify through initiatives like Frontier. But voluntary demand is tiny. Currently the global voluntary carbon market is worth just $2 billion. By contrast, the global compliance carbon market—driven by schemes like the European Union's Emissions Trading System, California's Cap-and-Trade, and now the UK Emissions Trading system (ETS)—was valued at over $800 billion. Right now, the UK ETS covers around 111 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually across the power, industrial, and aviation sectors. The average price of a UK allowance in July 2025 is around $48 per tonne. Even if just 1% of UK ETS obligations are fulfilled through removals, that's a potential $43 million market annually for removals. And here's the key: this isn't a hypothetical. The UK has committed to legislating integration by 2028, with removals entering the market by the end of 2029. That timeline is long enough to allow for standard setting and infrastructure development, but near enough to start attracting real investment now. For a sector that's often lived off philanthropic capital and early adopter corporate buyers, this is oxygen. What does this mean in practice? A few things. First, only removals that take place on UK soil will be eligible—this ensures that the benefits of investment (jobs, infrastructure, MRV capabilities) stay local. Second, removal credits will be awarded after the carbon has been verified to be sequestered, not in advance. That's important. It signals a clear move away from the 'pay-now-promise-later' dynamic that has plagued lower-integrity offset markets. Perhaps most importantly, only removals that can demonstrate carbon will be stored for at least 200 years will qualify. That threshold effectively draws a line in the sand: no reforestation credits that could reverse in a few decades. The UK is saying, if you want an allowance, your removal better last two centuries. That's a powerful signal to companies focused on permanence—those relying on mineralization, geologic storage, or stable biochar. The government has also indicated it is 'minded to differentiate' between these new removal credits and existing allowances—potentially creating a dual-credit system. In other words, a tonne of avoided emissions and a tonne of removed carbon might be priced and treated differently. That opens up the potential for two carbon markets to exist side-by-side: one punishing emitters, the other incentivizing removers. It's a nuanced idea, but if done well, it could provide flexibility while preserving environmental integrity. There will be auctions to facilitate a route to market—helping removal operators sell their credits into a structured and transparent system, rather than relying solely on opaque bilateral deals. The government will also maintain the existing 'gross cap'—that is, the total amount of allowances won't increase to accommodate removals. This ensures that carbon removals don't create space for additional emissions. It's not a license to pollute—it's a tool to neutralize emissions that can't be cut. Some of this might sound arcane, but it reflects a growing maturity in how we think about removals. Climate science is clear: reaching net zero means both cutting emissions and removing what we can't avoid. The UK is the first country to bake that second half of the equation into its compliance market architecture. This decision is also a direct boost to the UK's emerging carbon removal ecosystem. Take UNDO, a recent XPRIZE winner, which spreads finely crushed basalt on farmlands to accelerate natural weathering processes—permanently storing carbon in soils. Or Mission Zero Technologies, a direct air capture startup developing modular electrochemical systems that capture CO₂ from ambient air and store it underground. Both are UK-based, and both could now see a real, regulated path to monetizing their impact—not through donations or hype cycles, but through policy-anchored carbon demand. And this matters beyond the UK. Globally, the carbon removal sector must grow from removing tens of thousands of tonnes of CO₂ per year to billions by 2050. That means turning niche science projects into bankable infrastructure. It means shifting from tech demonstrations to projects that institutional investors, insurers, and utilities can underwrite. None of that happens without real markets—and until now, those have been missing. The UK's move is not perfect, and it won't be fast. But it's a milestone: the first major economy to say, explicitly, that carbon removal belongs in the same market as pollution—and that removing carbon deserves the same financial seriousness as cutting it.
Wall Street Journal
02-07-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Carbon Removal Startup Climeworks Fundraising Moves Past $1 Billion
Swiss carbon-removal startup Climeworks has raised more than $1 billion in total equity funding, after it secured $162 million in its latest round. The company, which was set up in 2009 to remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere, has been backed by some of the world's largest organizations, including Microsoft, BCG and Morgan Stanley. Its pioneering technology, known as direct air capture, or DAC, literally sucks carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using giant plants such as its Mammoth facility in Iceland, which is able to remove 36,000 tons of CO2 a year.
