On April 11, 2024, the world witnessed a groundbreaking advance in the fight against climate change as the world’s largest direct air capture (DAC) facility officially began operations in Iceland. Named “CarbonClear,” this pioneering plant is designed to remove up to 1 million tons of CO₂ annually from the atmosphere—equivalent to taking approximately 215,000 cars off the road—by using cutting-edge technology to capture carbon dioxide directly from ambient air and securely store it underground.
Located near Reykjavik, Iceland, CarbonClear leverages the region’s unique geological formations, including basalt rock formations, which react with captured CO₂ to form stable carbonate minerals. This natural mineralization process permanently locks away carbon dioxide, preventing it from re-entering the atmosphere. The plant’s operation was spearheaded by ClimeWorks, a Swiss-based carbon removal company, in collaboration with Iceland’s CarbFix project and local government entities.
Dr. Ingrid Johansen, ClimeWorks’ Chief Technology Officer, emphasized the milestone significance: “This facility represents a vital step toward large-scale carbon removal, which is essential if we want to meet the goals set by the Paris Agreement. Our ability to capture and permanently store CO₂ at this scale demonstrates that technology can complement emissions reductions.”
The plant’s capacity and operational scale are unprecedented for direct air capture systems, which until recently had been limited to pilot projects capturing only thousands of tons annually. CarbonClear’s design incorporates modular units equipped with advanced sorbents that selectively bind CO₂ molecules, paired with renewable energy sources to power the process, ensuring net-zero emissions during operation.
The development of CarbonClear has been met with enthusiasm in the scientific and environmental communities. Experts agree that carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies will be necessary alongside emission reductions to effectively combat climate change, especially given the current shortfall in global carbon neutrality commitments. The facility’s successful launch has also sparked increased governmental and private sector interest in investing in DAC projects globally.
Commercially, CarbonClear could serve as a blueprint for future carbon capture initiatives worldwide. Its scalable and modular design offers a pathway for rapid deployment in diverse geographic locations, potentially transforming industries that are difficult to decarbonize, such as cement and steel manufacturing. Companies are now exploring partnerships and carbon offset programs linked to such technologies, signaling a growing market for carbon removal credits.
Behind the scenes, the CarbonClear project overcame significant engineering and logistical challenges, including sourcing durable materials for sorbents, optimizing energy efficiency, and navigating the complexities of underground CO₂ injection. This achievement highlights the interdisciplinary efforts of chemical engineers, geologists, and climate scientists working in concert.
Looking forward, CarbonClear plans to expand capacity and share its expertise to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture worldwide. This success offers hope that technological innovation can play a pivotal role in mitigating the most severe effects of climate change and steering the planet toward a more sustainable future.
