Climeworks has launched the world’s largest direct air capture and storage plant that permanently removes carbon dioxide from the air.
Strategically located adjacent to ON Power’s Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Plant in Iceland, the plant, dubbed Orca, runs completely on renewable energy.
The construction of Orca began in May 2020 and is based on advanced modular technology in the form of innovative stackable container-size collector units. Climeworks said it has been able to intensify the process leading to increased carbon dioxide capture capacity per module. This optimized process means more carbon dioxide can be captured and stored than ever before.
Climeworks said the technology can be replicated easily at different locations worldwide and on larger scales, wherever ample renewable energy and storage conditions are available. The company is planning to ramp up its capture capacity significantly in light of strong market demand from firms such as Microsof