To avoid the devastating impacts of manmade climate change, atmospheric CO2 needs to be reduced. Preventing emissions is one important part of this, but carbon capture technology can also help to achieve CO2 reduction targets.
Climeworks has partnered with Reykjavik Energy to combine direct air capture (DAC) technology for the safe and permanent geological storage of CO2 for the first time. The research project centers around one of the world’s largest geothermal power plants in Hellisheidi, Iceland. A Climeworks DAC module has been installed on-site to capture CO2 from ambient air for permanent storage underground in basalt, thus creating a carbon removal solution.
The technology draws in ambient air and captures the CO2 with a patented filter. The filter is then heated with low-grade heat from the geothermal plant to release the pure CO2. It is then bound to water and sent more than 700 m underground. There, the CO2 reacts with the basaltic bedrock and forms solid minerals. The plant is part of the CarbFix2 project, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program.
- Climeworks AG, Zurich, Switzerland
- Reykjavik Energy, Iceland
- HORIZON 2020, EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation
