Mammoth

Climeworks: Pioneering Carbon Removal with Direct Air Capture and Storage

Climeworks is at the forefront of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, specializing in the development and deployment of Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology to combat global CO₂ concentrations. Our mission is to provide a scalable, permanent carbon removal solution that contributes significantly to reaching climate targets and eventually reducing the global CO2 concentration in our atmosphere.

Our second, larger flagship DAC plant, Mammoth, located in Iceland next to its smaller predecessor, Orca, marks a milestone in the scale-up of carbon removal technology. Certified by Puro.earth right from the start, its operation allows companies and individual customers to reliably and permanently remove historic or unavoidable CO2 from the atmosphere.

Project Details

1. Project location: Hellisheidi (Reykjavik), Iceland
The Mammoth plant is strategically situated in Iceland, utilizing the vicinity of one of the largest geothermal energy providers to tap into abundant renewable heat and electricity to power its operations. This location allows for the seamless integration of DAC technology with geothermal energy, ensuring a low-carbon footprint for the entire process.

2. Technology: Direct Air Capture and Storage via mineralization
Direct Air Capture:
Our DAC technology captures CO₂ directly from the ambient air by passing it through specialized filters that selectively bind with carbon dioxide. The captured CO₂ is then harvested, and processed for permanent storage.
Storage via mineralization:
Our partner Carbfix, a pioneering Icelandic company, converts the CO₂ captured by Climeworks into stable carbonate minerals through a natural mineralization process. The CO₂ is mixed with water and injected deep into basaltic rock formations, where it reacts with the minerals to form solid carbonates, ensuring permanent and safe storage.

3. Operational capacity and certification
Initial capacity:
The Mammoth plant designed for a capture capacity of up to 36,000 tons per year. The effective removal, substituting for losses, grey emissions and other considerations is estimated to be around 22,000 tons per year once the plant is complete and fully ramped up. Mammoth’s capacity represents a significant step towards scaling our operations from thousands of tons at our first plant, Orca, to tens of thousands of tons at Mammoth. One of many steps to scaling carbon removal to a billion ton scale required by climate science.
Certification:
Mammoth is the second DAC plant to be certified by Puro.earth. Importantly, applying learnings and processes from our DAC plant Orca, Mammoth’s operations are certified from the start. Certification ensures that our processes meet rigorous standards for environmental integrity, and the permanence, as well as the additionality of our carbon removal credits.

4. Environmental and social impact
Permanent CO₂ removal:
The mineralization process ensures that the captured CO₂ is permanently removed from the atmosphere, contributing to long-term climate stability. By rigorous certification, Climeworks ensures that one ton of carbon removal purchased is one ton of carbon dioxide stored permanently, enabling its customers to reach their net-zero targets by removing unavoidable emissions.

Conclusion
Climeworks is dedicated to scaling carbon removal solutions that will help the world meet its climate targets by removing historic and hard-to-abate emissions. Our pioneering work on Direct Air Capture technology sets a new standard for carbon removal, offering scalable, verifiable and permanent CO₂ removal. By partnering with Climeworks, individuals and organizations can actively participate in the fight against climate change and support the development of groundbreaking solutions for a better planet.

Co-benefits of Climeworks’ Direct Air Capture technology

Climeworks’ Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology not only removes CO₂ from the atmosphere but also provides numerous co-benefits that enhance its value as a climate solution. These benefits span environmental, economic, and social dimensions, making DAC a holistic tool for addressing climate change.

1. Environmental co-benefits
Renewable energy integration:
Climeworks’ plants, such as Mammoth in Iceland, are powered by low-carbon energy, minimizing operational carbon footprints and supporting renewable infrastructure.
Enhanced ecosystem services:
By lowering CO₂ levels, DAC contributes to climate stabilization, protecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
Resource efficiency:
The mineralization process permanently stores CO₂ in basalt, using natural resources effectively and ensuring stability.

2. Economic co-benefits
Job creation:
Building and operating DAC plants creates local jobs, boosting economies and supporting the development of skilled workforces in clean technology.
Innovation:
Climeworks’ R&D drives breakthroughs in carbon capture technology, potentially benefiting other industries and accelerating the low-carbon transition.
Market leadership:
As an industrial-scale DAC pioneer, Climeworks attracts investments and partnerships, spurring economic growth and technological advancements.

3. Social co-benefits
Climate awareness:
Climeworks’ projects promote understanding of carbon removal and climate solutions, empowering public climate action.
Community engagement:
Climeworks actively engages with local communities where its plants are located, and ensures that the benefits of DAC projects are shared with the community.
Corporate responsibility:
Through carbon removal certificates, Climeworks enables businesses and individuals to offset their carbon footprints, promoting corporate responsibility and environmental stewardship.

4. Health co-benefits
Improved air quality:
While DAC primarily targets CO₂, the overall reduction in greenhouse gases contributes to improved air quality and public health by reducing respiratory and cardiovascular risks.
Climate mitigation:
Reducing CO₂ levels mitigates extreme weather events such as heatwaves, floods, and storms. These events pose significant health risks, and their mitigation can lead to better public health outcomes.

Future prospects
The co-benefits of Climeworks’ DAC technology extend beyond immediate carbon removal. As the technology scales and integrates with other climate solutions, these co-benefits will likely expand, driving further environmental, economic, and social progress.