Climeworks plant removes carbon dioxide directly from the air
- 7 years ago
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND — The alarming rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide has called scientists to develop carbon dioxide removal technologies that will counter climate change. One company, called Climeworks, has built a plant that directly removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The plant is located on the roof of a waste recovery facility, which provides heat to power the plant. Air containing carbon dioxide and other molecules is blown through several CO2 collectors.
According to a Climeworks press release, the plant is made of 18 collectors, which capture about 2,460 kilograms of carbon dioxide each day. The amount of carbon dioxide collected varies daily depending on the weather and air composition.
Each collector is equipped with a filter system that contains amine molecules. Carbon dioxide binds to the amine molecules, while other air molecules pass through and return to the atmosphere.
Once saturated with carbon dioxide, the filter is heated to about 100°C, causing the carbon dioxide to unbind from amines, and allowing it to be collected.
The filter can be reused several thousand times, making this process of carbon dioxide removal and collection a continuous cycle.
The carbon dioxide collected by the plant can be used to help make renewable fuel and materials, or supplied to the food and beverage industry.
Each year, it also provides 900 tons of carbon dioxide via pipeline to a greenhouse located 400 meters away. This CO2 supply has reportedly increased crop yield by 20%.
Beyond this greenhouse, Climeworks has plans with a wider scope. The company reports that they would like to remove 1% of global carbon dioxide emissions by 2025, which will aid in limiting a global temperature rise of 2°C.
The plant is located on the roof of a waste recovery facility, which provides heat to power the plant. Air containing carbon dioxide and other molecules is blown through several CO2 collectors.
According to a Climeworks press release, the plant is made of 18 collectors, which capture about 2,460 kilograms of carbon dioxide each day. The amount of carbon dioxide collected varies daily depending on the weather and air composition.
Each collector is equipped with a filter system that contains amine molecules. Carbon dioxide binds to the amine molecules, while other air molecules pass through and return to the atmosphere.
Once saturated with carbon dioxide, the filter is heated to about 100°C, causing the carbon dioxide to unbind from amines, and allowing it to be collected.
The filter can be reused several thousand times, making this process of carbon dioxide removal and collection a continuous cycle.
The carbon dioxide collected by the plant can be used to help make renewable fuel and materials, or supplied to the food and beverage industry.
Each year, it also provides 900 tons of carbon dioxide via pipeline to a greenhouse located 400 meters away. This CO2 supply has reportedly increased crop yield by 20%.
Beyond this greenhouse, Climeworks has plans with a wider scope. The company reports that they would like to remove 1% of global carbon dioxide emissions by 2025, which will aid in limiting a global temperature rise of 2°C.