For comparison, the world’s largest DACCS-plant currently in operation is 4,000 tonnes.
Prior to the 100,000 tonnes plant, Removr plans to launch its first 2,000 tonnes commercial plant in Iceland in 2025. This facility will provide further key learnings towards improving energy efficiency and reducing footprint at a larger scale, which is critical to bring down costs. Iceland offers the ideal framework conditions for developing DACCS, including access to critical infrastructure and a value chain which is at the forefront of DACCS development. Preferred locations have been identified for both plants, subject to agreements and approvals.
The 100,000 tonnes plant will provide carbon removal services to corporate customers seeking to remove carbon from the air to meet net-zero commitments and compensate for historical emissions. The collaboration with Carbfix marks an important milestone in Removr’s journey to industrialise DACCS.
“The world is falling further behind the path to net-zero, and industrialising DACCS is set to play a major role in turning this trend. Therefore, we are delighted to partner with Carbfix which will allow us to move forward rapidly with our stepwise scaling approach,” said Einar Tyssen, CEO of Removr.
Removr was born out of the idea that carbon removal will be required for the world to reach net-zero by 2050, with DACCS being the most permanent, additional, verifiable, land-use efficient and scalable carbon removal solution. Removr’s technology is on its fourth pilot, with a 50 tonne per year carbon capture prototype currently operated by technology partner GreenCap Solutions of Norway. In February 2023, Removr announced its first industrial pilot.
The pilot, financed through Norway’s first-ever grant to DACCS, will have the capacity to capture 300 tonnes of CO2 per year and commence operations in 2024 at the world-leading carbon capture Technology Centre Mongstad. The pilot will also test the technology’s applicability for low-concentration CO2 point source capture.
Removr’s partner, Carbfix, the world’s first CO2 mineral storage operator, has developed a solution that turns CO2 into stone via underground mineralization in less than two years with an operational track record stretching back to 2012. This is enabled by high reactivity of porous basaltic formations in Iceland, Carbfix’s mineralisation process provides a safe and durable storage solution with lower cost than many alternatives.
“Combining Removr’s direct air capture concept with Carbfix’s leading storage solution marks a new tangible step towards industrialising DACCS. We look forward to further developing our partnership with Removr,” said Edda Aradóttir, CEO of Carbfix.
In its efforts to achieve DACCS cost leadership, Removr has established an ecosystem of world-leading partners which, in addition to Carbfix and ON Power, include SINTEF, Metier, Citec and DNV. In Q4 2022, DNV published a technical due diligence report verifying the company’s scale-up plan and large-scale concept. Removr is currently in commercial discussions regarding Head of Terms (HoT) on the way to a power purchasing agreement (PPA) with Iceland’s ON Power in order to secure the renewable electricity required to sustainably run its 2,000 and 100,000 tonne plants.
“Limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees requires permanent and immediate carbon removal measures. These measures cannot be successful without a well-functioning value chain for DACCS, which Removr plays a key role in shaping,” said Tyssen.