Direct Air Capture Facility Removes Record 50,000 Tonnes of CO2

A New Benchmark for Carbon Removal

The world's largest direct air capture (DAC) facility has reached full operational capacity, removing 50,000 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere each year. The plant, located in Iceland and powered entirely by geothermal energy, represents a major step forward for carbon removal technology.

How It Works

Direct air capture uses large fans to draw in atmospheric air, which passes through chemical filters that bind to CO2 molecules. The captured carbon is then either permanently stored underground through mineralisation or used in industrial processes.

The Scale Challenge

While 50,000 tonnes is a record for a single facility, it is a tiny fraction of what is needed. The IPCC estimates that removing 5-10 billion tonnes of CO2 annually will be necessary by mid-century to limit warming to 1.5°C. Dozens of facilities at this scale — or larger — will be required.

The Business Case

The facility's operation is financed through a combination of government subsidies and voluntary carbon credit purchases by corporations. As carbon prices rise and removal credits command premium prices, the economics of DAC are expected to improve dramatically over the coming decade.