How the ‘World’s Largest’ Carbon Vacuum in Iceland Works to Combat Climate Change

Image Credit: New Scientist

In a groundbreaking initiative, the “world’s largest” direct air capture (DAC) plant, resembling a colossal vacuum, commenced operations in Iceland on Wednesday. Developed by Swiss company Climeworks, the mammoth facility named ” Mammoth” marks a significant leap in combatting climate change.

Mammoth, dwarfing its predecessor Orca tenfold, represents a milestone in DAC technology. Designed to extract planet-heating carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, DAC employs chemical processes to strip carbon from the air, which can then be stored underground, repurposed, or transformed into solid materials.

Climeworks intends to sequester the captured carbon underground in partnership with Icelandic company Carbfix, where it undergoes a natural process, eventually turning into stone—a permanent lockup of carbon. Notably, the operation relies on Iceland’s abundant and clean geothermal energy, showcasing a sustainable approach to combating climate change.

The necessity for innovative climate solutions like DAC has become increasingly apparent amid rising carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere, reaching record levels in 2023. As global temperatures soar with detrimental impacts on both humanity and the environment, scientists emphasize the urgency of not only reducing fossil fuel consumption but also removing carbon from the atmosphere.

However, DAC technology remains contentious, facing criticism for its perceived high costs, energy requirements, and scalability challenges. Some environmental advocates worry that focusing on carbon removal could divert attention from crucial efforts to curb fossil fuel usage.

Despite these concerns, Climeworks forged ahead with the construction of Mammoth, boasting a modular design with 72 collector containers—devices responsible for capturing carbon—allowing for easy scalability and relocation. At full capacity, Mammoth aims to extract a staggering 36,000 tons of carbon annually, equivalent to removing nearly 7,800 gas-powered cars from the roads for a year.

While Climeworks did not disclose precise costs for carbon removal, the company aims to drive costs down to $300 to $350 per ton by 2030 and ultimately reach $100 per ton by 2050. Such reductions are crucial for making DAC technology economically viable on a large scale.

Despite the strides made by Mammoth, experts caution that it represents only a fraction of the carbon removal capacity needed to meet global climate goals. The International Energy Agency estimates that current carbon removal equipment worldwide can only remove around 0.01 million metric tons of carbon annually, far below the 70 million tons required by 2030.

Looking ahead, other companies are also developing ambitious DAC projects, such as Stratos in Texas, designed to remove 500,000 tons of carbon per year. However, concerns linger over how captured carbon will be utilized, with some fearing it could inadvertently prolong fossil fuel extraction.

For Climeworks, the unveiling of Mammoth signifies just the beginning of a grand vision. With plans to scale up to 1 million tons of carbon removal per year by 2030 and a staggering 1 billion tons by 2050, the company remains steadfast in its commitment to combating climate change through innovative technologies.

As reported by CNN in their recent article