We track the progress of a carbon removal project through our certification framework. This roadmap moves from a preliminary assessment of eligibility toward full certification under the Puro Standard.
The facility has successfully completed the preliminary assessment conducted by the Puro team, meeting the minimum criteria for listing as a future supplier on Puro.earth.
The facility has passed the third-party facility audit, verifying compliance with the methodology, as well as output audit, verifying the net volume of removed carbon. The facility has been issued CORCs and continues its removal operations, as well as monitoring and reporting to Puro.earth.
Development status
We monitor a facility’s maturity as it moves toward industrial-scale operations. This status identifies whether a project is in development, under construction, or actively removing carbon from the atmosphere.
The feasibility study is ongoing. The Supplier is still collecting data to prove the concept.
The front-end engineering and design are ready and methodology compliant. There is a clear plan to monitor and measure. The LCA is up to the needed quality level or subject to small improvements. The technology has been used before. There are commercial agreements with the relevant business partners of the facility.
The facility is fully funded and is being implemented. Relevant infrastructure is being built.
The facility is operating as a carbon removal facility.
information
More about Orca plant
Pioneering carbon removal solutions with Direct Air Capture
Climeworks is at the forefront of climate innovation, specializing in the development and deployment of Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology to combat global CO₂ emissions. Our mission is to provide scalable, permanent carbon removal solutions that contribute significantly to a future that is both sustainable and resilient to climate change.
Our flagship DAC plant, Orca, located in Iceland, marks a milestone in the fight against climate change, being the first industrial-scale plant of its kind and certified by Puro.earth.
Project Details 1. Project location: Orca, Iceland The Orca plant is strategically situated in Iceland, utilizing the region's abundant renewable energy resources 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 mineralization Direct Air Capture: Our DAC technology captures CO₂ directly from the ambient air using specially designed filters. This captured CO₂ is then processed and prepared for permanent storage. 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 Orca plant has an initial capacity to capture 4,000 tons of CO₂ annually. This capacity represents a significant step towards scaling our operations and enhancing the global impact of DAC technology. Certification: Orca is the first DAC plant to be certified by Puro.earth. This certification ensures that our processes meet rigorous standards for environmental integrity, permanence, and additionality.
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.
Conclusion Climeworks is dedicated to creating a sustainable, climate-resilient future through innovative carbon removal solutions. Our pioneering work with Direct Air Capture and mineralization sets a new standard for environmental technology, offering scalable 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.
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 Orca 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.
sdgs
Sustainable development goals
Only listed sustainable development goals (SDGs) have been assessed according to the Puro standard SDG Assessment Requirements and validated and verified by a VVB.
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Puro.earth provides the institutional-grade infrastructure and global ecosystem required to navigate an evolving industry with confidence. Through rigorous standards,…
