The “Mamut”, a plant designed to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, has started operating in Iceland. This plant, developed by Swiss company Climeworks, is ten times larger than its predecessor, Orca, and uses Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology to absorb air and extract carbon. Captured carbon can be reused, transformed into solid products or transported underground where it will naturally turn to stone, permanently sequestering the carbon. This process is facilitated through a partnership with Icelandic company Carbfix and powered by Iceland's abundant geothermal energy.
As global levels of carbon dioxide reach record highs, technologies like DAC are gaining attention as potential solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change. However, DAC technology has received criticism for its high cost, power consumption, and unproven scalability. Some also fear it could detract from efforts to reduce the use of fossil fuels.
Despite these concerns, Climeworks remains optimistic about the potential of DAC technology. The Mammoth plant, which began construction in June 2022, is the world's largest of its kind and features a modular design with space for 72 “collector containers” that capture carbon from the air. Currently, 12 of these containers are in place, with more to be added in the coming months. Once fully operational, Mammoth will be able to remove 36,000 tons of carbon from the atmosphere annually, the equivalent of removing approximately 7,800 gasoline cars from the road for a year.
While the current cost per ton of carbon removed is closer to $1,000, Climeworks aims to reduce it to $300 to $350 per ton by 2030 and $100 per ton by 2050. Despite progress, experts warn that the 'scale of carbon removal that can be achieved today is still possible. far less than is required to meet global climate goals.
Climeworks has ambitious plans for the future, aiming to scale up to 1 million tonnes of carbon removal per year by 2030 and 1 billion tonnes by 2050. The company is also considering establishing plants additional DACs in Kenya and the United States.
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