Climeworks, the pioneering company in carbon capture technology, activated Mammoth, the largest direct air capture and storage plant globally.
Following the success of its inaugural venture in Iceland, Orca, Climeworks elevated its efforts with Mammoth, which is ten times the size of its predecessor.
The Mammoth facility, initiated in June 2022, embodies a modular design, with twelve out of its planned 72 collector containers already operational. The plant will be completed throughout 2024.
This groundbreaking project aims to reach a remarkable capacity of capturing up to 36,000 tons of CO2 annually, contributing substantially to global carbon removal efforts.
Powered by renewable energy sourced from Iceland’s geothermal plants, Mammoth employs a sophisticated process wherein fans draw outside air through filters, trapping CO2 molecules.
Carbfix, the storage partner, facilitates the dissolution of CO2 in water, which is then injected deep underground. Through a natural reaction with basaltic rock, the CO2 solidifies into stone, ensuring its permanent sequestration.
Key Features of Mammoth
- The largest direct air capture and storage (DAC+S) plant, named Mammoth, began operatiosn in Iceland in May 2024.
- Mammoth is designed for a nameplate capture capacity of up to 36,000 tons of CO₂ per year.
- Besides Iceland, Climeworks is developing multiple megaton hubs in the U.S.
Jan Wurzbacher, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Climeworks, highlighted Mammoth’s significance in the company’s ambitious roadmap towards megaton capacity by 2030 and gigaton by 2050.
He emphasized Climeworks’ commitment to continuous research and development, leveraging insights gained from years of field experience and data analysis to enhance operational efficiency and performance.
“Constructing multiple real-world plants in rapid sequences makes Climeworks the most deployed carbon removal company with direct air capture at the core,” he said.
With Mammoth operational, Climeworks aims to further refine its technology and operational processes, capitalizing on real-world data to optimize performance and increase CO2 capture efficiency.
The company’s relentless pursuit of innovation extends to its partnership with Carbfix, as demonstrated by the development of a CO2 absorption tower, marking a significant advancement in direct air capture and storage technology.
Looking ahead, Climeworks envisions a future where carbon removal becomes a mainstream solution in the fight against climate change.
Beyond Iceland, Climeworks is developing multiple megaton hubs in the United States. By scaling up its operations globally and collaborating on megaton hub projects, such as Project Cypress in Louisiana, Climeworks is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the carbon removal industry’s evolution.
Climeworks aims to replicate its megaton hubs worldwide including Norway, Kenya, and Canada to reach a global scale.