In a monumental stride towards combating climate change, the world's largest direct air capture (DAC) facility, aptly named "Mammoth," commenced operations in Iceland in May 2024. Developed by Swiss company Climeworks, Mammoth is designed to remove up to 36,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) annually from the atmosphere, marking a tenfold increase over its predecessor, Orca.
Harnessing Iceland's Geothermal Power
Strategically located in Hellisheiði, Iceland, Mammoth leverages the region's abundant geothermal energy to power its operations, ensuring a sustainable and renewable energy source for the DAC process. This synergy between cutting-edge technology and natural resources exemplifies innovative approaches to environmental stewardship.
Understanding Direct Air Capture (DAC)
Direct Air Capture is a technological process that extracts CO₂ directly from ambient air, offering a promising solution to reduce greenhouse gas concentrations. The DAC process can be broken down into several key stages:
- Air Contacting: Ambient air is drawn into the DAC system using large-scale fans, bringing it into contact with chemical media designed to capture CO₂.
- CO₂ Capture: The CO₂ in the air binds with the chemical media, which can be either liquid solvents or solid sorbents. This binding effectively separates CO₂ from other components of the air.
- CO₂ Release: The CO₂-rich media is then processed to release the captured CO₂. This step often requires the application of heat or a change in pressure to separate the CO₂ from the media.
- CO₂ Handling: The purified CO₂ is compressed and prepared for transportation to storage or utilisation sites.
- Sorbent Regeneration: After releasing CO₂, the chemical media is regenerated and recycled back into the system to capture more CO₂, enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of the process.
Mammoth's Technological Approach
Mammoth employs advanced DAC technology to extract CO₂ directly from ambient air. The process involves drawing air into the facility, where CO₂ is captured using specialised filters. Once separated, the CO₂ is mixed with water and injected deep into basaltic rock formations underground. Over time, a natural mineralisation process occurs, transforming the CO₂ into solid carbonate minerals, effectively locking it away permanently.
Scaling Up Carbon Removal Efforts
The successful launch of Mammoth represents a significant milestone in global carbon removal efforts. Climeworks envisions this facility as a pivotal step towards achieving megaton-scale CO₂ removal capacity by 2030 and reaching gigaton-scale by 2050. Such ambitious goals are crucial for mitigating the impacts of climate change and aligning with international climate targets.
Collaborative Efforts in Carbon Storage
A key partner in this endeavor is Carbfix, an Icelandic company specialising in carbon storage solutions. Carbfix's innovative method involves dissolving captured CO₂ in water and injecting it into basaltic rock formations, where it mineralises into stable carbonates. This collaboration ensures that the CO₂ removed from the atmosphere is securely and permanently stored, contributing to the overall effectiveness of the DAC process.
Looking Ahead
The activation of Mammoth signifies a hopeful advancement in the quest for sustainable climate solutions. By effectively capturing and storing substantial amounts of CO₂, this facility not only demonstrates the potential of DAC technology but also paves the way for future innovations in carbon management. As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change, initiatives like Mammoth offer a tangible means of reducing atmospheric CO₂ and moving towards a more sustainable future.
