The world’s largest direct air capture (DAC) facility, Mammoth, developed by Swiss firm Climeworks, is making waves in the fight against climate change. Located in Iceland, this futuristic plant is capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the atmosphere and storing it deep underground where it turns to stone.
With towering machines the size of shipping containers and zig-zagging silver pipes, Mammoth is a sight to behold. It has been running for two months and is already capable of capturing 36,000 tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to taking 8,000 petrol cars off the road.
The process involves sucking in air with powerful fans, capturing the CO2, and then storing it underground in volcanic basalt, where it solidifies into carbonate minerals. This innovative technology is not only efficient but also fast, with around 95% of the CO2 mineralized within two years.
While some critics argue that capturing CO2 at the source would be more efficient, Climeworks believes that DAC technology is a crucial part of the solution to combatting global warming. Mammoth has already attracted big-name clients like Microsoft, H&M, and Lego, who are purchasing carbon offsets to support the project.
Despite the high costs and energy consumption associated with DAC technology, Climeworks is optimistic about the future. With plans to scale up and drive down costs, they aim to be capturing CO2 at a cost of $300 to $400 per tonne by the end of the decade.
As the world grapples with record levels of CO2 emissions, innovative solutions like Mammoth offer hope for a more sustainable future. With more DAC projects in the pipeline and government funding to support large-scale carbon removal, the fight against climate change is gaining momentum.
