Climeworks partners with Saudi Arabia to advance Direct Air Capture technology
Climeworks has formed a partnership with KAPSARC to explore Direct Air Capture technology in Saudi Arabia, aiming to position the country as a leader in carbon removal.
Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology is gaining traction as leaders in the field collaborate on innovative solutions to combat climate change. Climeworks, a leader in the DAC sector, has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) in Saudi Arabia. This partnership aims to explore the potential development of DAC technology in the region, an initiative that aligns with the country’s strategic interest in carbon removal technologies.
The MOU was formalised during the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) Forum, and it signals an important step for Saudi Arabia as it seeks to position itself as a key player in carbon removal. The country's geological characteristics, including substantial carbon storage potential and an abundance of renewable energy resources, make it an attractive site for DAC development. Christoph Gebald, co-founder and co-CEO of Climeworks, noted, “Saudi Arabia is an ideal location for Direct Air Capture technology, thanks to its abundant low-carbon energy resources, underground CO2 storage potential, and forward-thinking policies that support innovative climate solutions.”
KAPSARC’s Vice President of Knowledge & Analysis, Axel Pierru, spoke about the significance of this collaboration, stating: “This collaboration marks a significant step in exploring innovative carbon removal solutions tailored to Saudi Arabia’s unique context and large geological CO2 storage capacity. Our research shows the key role that the development of DAC in the Kingdom will potentially play in achieving a net-zero energy system, both domestically and globally.” The immediate objective of this partnership is to set up a full-scale DAC facility, leveraging Climeworks’ experience from similar projects in Iceland.
In tandem with efforts from Climeworks, KAPSARC is also involved in various initiatives related to carbon dioxide removal. The organisation is an active supporter of the Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Mission race, which encourages student involvement in the sector. Moreover, oil giant Aramco is exploring its own DAC possibilities, having signed agreements with Spiritus and Siemens Energy to develop pilot plants intended for scaling up operations. Aramco Ventures has also invested in Spiritus to further bolster this initiative.
Meanwhile, discussions surrounding DAC and its place in the broader carbon ecosystem were prominent at the North American CO2 Summit 2024 held in Nashville. The summit served as a platform for industry professionals to discuss the imperative role of DAC in addressing greenhouse gas emissions that are projected to be unavoidable in the coming decades. Many experts emphasised that achieving climate goals will necessitate significant carbon dioxide removal efforts, potentially at a scale of billions of tons by mid-century. As outlined during the event, carbon removal strategies are critical not only for offsetting residual emissions by the year 2050 but also for tackling the current high concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
As developments in DAC technology evolve and collaborations like that of Climeworks and KAPSARC unfold, the potential for significant advancements in carbon removal strategies continues to grow.
Source: Noah Wire Services